FreeBSD Porter's Handbook
Prev | Chapter 12 Dos and Don'ts | Next

# 12.15 Marking a port not installable with `BROKEN`, `FORBIDDEN`, or `IGNORE`

In certain cases users should be prevented from installing a port. To tell a user that a port should not be installed, there are several `make` variables that can be used in a port's `Makefile`. The value of the following `make` variables will be the reason that is given back to users for why the port refuses to install itself. Please use the correct `make` variable as each make variable conveys radically different meanings to both users, and to automated systems that depend on the `Makefile`s, such as the ports build cluster, FreshPorts, and portsmon.

## 12.15.1 Variables

- `BROKEN` is reserved for ports that currently do not compile, install, or deinstall correctly. It should be used for ports where the problem is believed to be temporary.

  If instructed, the build cluster will still attempt to try to build them to see if the underlying problem has been resolved. (However, in general, the cluster is run without this.)

  For instance, use `BROKEN` when a port:

  - does not compile

  - fails its configuration or installation process

  - installs files outside of `${LOCALBASE}`

  - does not remove all its files cleanly upon deinstall (however, it may be acceptable, and desirable, for the port to leave user-modified files behind)

- `FORBIDDEN` is used for ports that do contain a security vulnerability or induce grave concern regarding the security of a FreeBSD system with a given port installed (ex: a reputably insecure program or a program that provides easily exploitable services). Ports should be marked as `FORBIDDEN` as soon as a particular piece of software has a vulnerability and there is no released upgrade. Ideally ports should be upgraded as soon as possible when a security vulnerability is discovered so as to reduce the number of vulnerable FreeBSD hosts (we like being known for being secure), however sometimes there is a noticeable time gap between disclosure of a vulnerability and an updated release of the vulnerable software. Do not mark a port `FORBIDDEN` for any reason other than security.

- `IGNORE` is reserved for ports that should not be built for some other reason. It should be used for ports where the problem is believed to be structural. The build cluster will not, under any circumstances, build ports marked as `IGNORE`. For instance, use `IGNORE` when a port:

  - compiles but does not run properly

  - does not work on the installed version of FreeBSD

  - requires FreeBSD kernel sources to build, but the user does not have them installed

  - has a distfile which may not be automatically fetched due to licensing restrictions

  - does not work with some other currently installed port (for instance, the port depends on `www/apache21` but `www/apache13` is installed)

  > Note: If a port would conflict with a currently installed port (for example, if they install a file in the same place that perfoms a different function), use `CONFLICTS` instead. `CONFLICTS` will set `IGNORE` by itself.

- If a port should be marked `IGNORE` only on certain architectures, there are two other convenience variables that will automatically set `IGNORE` for you: `ONLY_FOR_ARCHS` and `NOT_FOR_ARCHS`. Examples:

      ONLY_FOR_ARCHS= i386 amd64

      NOT_FOR_ARCHS= alpha ia64 sparc64

  A custom `IGNORE` message can be set using `ONLY_FOR_ARCHS_REASON` and `NOT_FOR_ARCHS_REASON`. Per architecture entries are possible with `ONLY_FOR_ARCHS_REASON_`ARCH`` and `NOT_FOR_ARCHS_REASON_`ARCH``.

- If a port fetches i386 binaries and installs them, `IA32_BINARY_PORT` should be set. If this variable is set, it will be checked whether the `/usr/lib32` directory is available for IA32 versions of libraries and whether the kernel has IA32 compatibility compiled in. If one of these two dependencies is not satisfied, `IGNORE` will be set automatically.

## 12.15.2 Implementation Notes

The strings should not be quoted. Also, the wording of the string should be somewhat different due to the way the information is shown to the user. Examples:

    BROKEN= this port is unsupported on FreeBSD 5.x

    IGNORE= is unsupported on FreeBSD 5.x

resulting in the following output from `make describe`:

    ===>  foobar-0.1 is marked as broken: this port is unsupported on FreeBSD 5.x.

    ===>  foobar-0.1 is unsupported on FreeBSD 5.x.

Prev | Home | Next
`README.html` | Up | Marking a port for removal with `DEPRECATED` or `EXPIRATION_DATE`

For questions about the FreeBSD ports system, e-mail <ports@FreeBSD.org>.
For questions about this documentation, e-mail <doc@FreeBSD.org>.