Binaries and alternate prefix

[Ryan Schmidt]

If we build and distribute binaries of ports.... is there a way we  
can still allow the user to choose their prefix?

The prefix can be hardcoded in so many places in built ports. For  
compiled libraries and binaries, we could use install_name_tool on  
the client side to fix up all the paths. We could either build with - 
headerpad_max_install_names or with a very long prefix, so that there  
is enough space in the binary to accommodate the user's prefix. If we  
used a long and particularly unique prefix at build time, then this  
would also make it possible for the client to do a search/replace of  
that string with the user's prefix in the port's text files.

Perhaps I'm getting ahead of things. We could begin with binaries  
only available for the default /opt/local path, and think about how  
to support other prefixes later.