18.1.4. Using FreeBSD-current

1. Join the FreeBSD-current mailing list <freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG> and the FreeBSD CVS commit message mailing list <cvs-all@FreeBSD.ORG> . This is not just a good idea, it is essential. If you are not on the FreeBSD-current mailing list you will not see the comments that people are making about the current state of the system and thus will probably end up stumbling over a lot of problems that others have already found and solved. Even more importantly, you will miss out on potentially critical information (e.g. ``Yo, Everybody! Before you rebuild /usr/src, you must rebuild the kernel or your system will crash horribly!"). The cvs-all mailing list will allow you to see the commit log entry for each change as it is made along with any pertinent information on possible side-effects. To join these lists, send mail to <majordomo@FreeBSD.ORG> and specify:

   subscribe freebsd-current
   subscribe cvs-all
   

   In the body of your message. Optionally, you can also say `help' and Majordomo will send you full help on how to subscribe and unsubscribe to the various other mailing lists we support.
2. Grab the sources from ftp.FreeBSD.ORG. You can do this in three ways:
   1. Use the CTM facility. Unless you have a good TCP/IP connection at a flat rate, this is the way to do it.
   2. Use the cvsup program with this supfile. This is the second most recommended method, since it allows you to grab the entire collection once and then only what has changed from then on. Many people run cvsup from cron and keep their sources up-to-date automatically.
   3. Use ftp. The source tree for FreeBSD-current is always "exported" on: ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.ORG/pub/FreeBSD/FreeBSD-current We also use `wu-ftpd' which allows compressed/tar'd grabbing of whole trees. e.g. you see:

                  usr.bin/lex
      

      You can do:

                  ftp> cd usr.bin
                  ftp> get lex.tar.Z
      

      And it will get the whole directory for you as a compressed tar file.
3. Essentially, if you need rapid on-demand access to the source and communications bandwidth is not a consideration, use cvsup or ftp. Otherwise, use CTM.
4. If you are grabbing the sources to run, and not just look at, then grab all of current, not just selected portions. The reason for this is that various parts of the source depend on updates elsewhere, and trying to compile just a subset is almost guaranteed to get you into trouble.
5. Before compiling current, read the Makefile in /usr/src carefully. You should at least run a ` make world' the first time through as part of the upgrading process. Reading the FreeBSD-current mailing list <freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG> will keep you up-to-date on other bootstrapping procedures that sometimes become necessary as we move towards the next release.
6. Be active! If you are running FreeBSD-current, we want to know what you have to say about it, especially if you have suggestions for enhancements or bug fixes. Suggestions with accompanying code are received most enthusiastically!