Index: share/man/man7/ports.7 =================================================================== --- share/man/man7/ports.7 +++ share/man/man7/ports.7 @@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ offers a simple way to compile and install third party applications. It is also used to build packages, to be installed using .Xr pkg 8 . -It can be installed and updated using -.Xr portsnap 8 . .Pp The ports tree, typically located at .Pa /usr/ports , @@ -61,6 +59,55 @@ Afterwards, .Dq Li "make install" installs the application. +.Pp +The +.Fx +Ports Collection is maintained in several branches, which differ mostly +by versions of software provided; the +.Em head +branch contains all the latest changes, while the +.Em quarterly +branches offer older, but better tested ones. +The +.Em head +branch can be installed or updated using either +.Xr portsnap 8 , +or from Subversion repository at: +.Pp +.Lk https://svn.FreeBSD.org/ports/head +.Pp +The +.Em quarterly +branches can be found in Subversion in the +.Fa branches/ +subdirectory, eg: +.Pp +.Lk https://svn.FreeBSD.org/ports/branches/2019Q1 +.Pp +It is generally a good idea to use the +.Nm +branch that matches the +.Xr pkg 8 +repository being used. +By default, for +.Fx CURRENT +the +.Xr pkg 8 +is configured to install packages built from the +.Em head +branch, while for +.Fx STABLE +or RELEASE versions it is configured to install packages built from +the latest +.Em quarterly +branch. +Currently configured +.Xr pkg 8 +repository can be verified by looking at the +.Em url +field in +.Cm pkg -vv +output. .Pp For more information about using ports, see the .Dq "Packages and Ports" section