User configuration file

[Ryan Schmidt]

On Aug 15, 2008, at 09:43, Adam Byrtek wrote:

> I tried to tweak a few configuration options for MacPorts in my home
> directory, but unfortunately when I run port I get the following
> error:
>
> sources_conf must be set in /opt/local/etc/macports/macports.conf or
> in your /Users/alpha/.macports/macports.conf file
>    while executing
> "mportinit ui_options global_options global_variations"
> Error: /opt/local/bin/port: Failed to initialize MacPorts,
> sources_conf must be set in /opt/local/etc/macports/macports.conf or
> in your /Users/alpha/.macports/macports.conf file
>
> This happens even when the file ~/.macports/macports.conf is
> completely empty, so my guess is that the options set in /etc are not
> inherited. This basically means I have to redefine all the defaults,
> which is not very intuitive. Moreover the error message states that
> sources_conf should be defined in /etc *or* in my home directory, so I
> would call this a bug. However before I report a ticket I want to
> consult the mailing list.

We at least need to document that the settings from the default  
macports.conf are not inherited if you use a macports.conf in  
the .macports directory in your home directory. The Guide doesn't  
even mention the possibility of a .macports directory in your home  
directory at all.