-Starting from 14.0-RELEASE, the FreeBSD project has published a set of packages of the kernel and base system, using man:pkg[8].
-These can be used in the same convenient way that users are used to, for adding and upgrading ported software, but for the kernel and userland itself.
-The packages, and usage thereof, are often referred to as pkgbase.
+Starting from 14.0-RELEASE, the FreeBSD project has published a set of packages of the base system, using man:pkg[8].
+The convenience of pkg is no longer limited to the FreeBSD ports collection. man:pkg[8] can be used for FreeBSD itself.
+Base packages, and usage thereof, were tradisionally referred to as _pkgbase_.
-Packages have been available since link:https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-pkgbase/2023-October/000221.html[October 2023], considered experimental for FreeBSD's 14 Release.
+Publication of official packages began in link:https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-pkgbase/2023-October/000221.html[October 2023]. Their use with FreeBSD 14 is currently experimental.
-Starting from 15.0-RELEASE, Base System packages will be the default and officially supported way to both install new FreeBSD instances, and also to update and upgrade between minor and major releases.
+Starting from 15.0-RELEASE, man:freebsd-base[7] will be supported as a tech preview for:
-[NOTE]
-====
-From 15.0-RELEASE onwards, the long-running man:freebsd-update[8] tool will only be supported on the earlier 13 and 14 release branches.
-====
+* installation
+* minor upgrades
+* major upgrades
-Base System Packages replace:
+freebsd-base will eventually replace:
* tarball distribution sets, such as `base.txz` or `kernel.txz`, which are historically used for installation of the OS with man:bsdinstall[8]
* man:freebsd-update[8] for updates to the OS.
+The current plan is for freebsd-update to work with pkg.
+
+[WARNING]
+====
+The replacement of distribution sets will take some time, until freebsd-base is fully stable
+====
+
Base System packages complement crossref:cutting-edge[makeworld,"building and installing from source"], which is still available for those who wish to build their own custom kernels or userland.
It is also possible to build custom base system packages from local sources, as well as just relying on officially provided packages.
-=== Converting a Host to use pkgbase
+=== Converting a Host to use freebsd-base
+
+FreeBSD 14.0-RELEASE or later can be converted to use base packages.
+Earlier versions must be upgraded with freebsd-update before conversion.
-Systems installed with FreeBSD 14.0-RELEASE or later can be converted to use Base System packages.
-For earlier versions, it is recommended to first upgrade to a recent Version, and then convert.
+For conversion, the FreeBSD Foundation-sponsored link:https://github.com/FreeBSDFoundation/pkgbasify[pkgbasify] tool is recommended. Follow the instructions given there.
-The FreeBSD Foundation has sponsored development of a tool called link:https://github.com/FreeBSDFoundation/pkgbasify[pkgbasify], which for most users, will be the easiest and safest way to convert systems to use Base System packages.
+man:freebsd-update[8] will be enhanced to use pkg and pkgbasify.
-The next step will upgrade the system to the specified version.
+The next step will upgrade the boot environment to the specified version.
[WARNING]
====
This step might remove non-base packages, which could include the running desktop environment.
-Be careful.
====
+Set the environment variable ABI to upgrade the major version (replace amd64 with the architecture and 15 with the targeted version). Set the pkg-static chroot directory to the boot environment mountpoint.