FreeBSD

Topics related to FreeBSD:

Getting started with FreeBSD

This section provides an overview of what freebsd is, and why a developer might want to use it.

It should also mention any large subjects within freebsd, and link out to the related topics. Since the Documentation for freebsd is new, you may need to create initial versions of those related topics.

Set up the FreeBSD development environment

Build from source

Overview of the whole process

Download the latest source code.
Configure the kernel.
Build the world and the kernel.
Configure the root filesystem of your new FreeBSD.
Install the world and the kernel.

Get the number of processors

An easy way to speed up the process of building and installing the new system is to use more processors to increase the computational power.

To find out what's the number of the processors you have to speed up the process:

sysctl hw.ncpu

For example:

hw.ncpu: 1

Let's set the $NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS environmental variable then:

export $NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=$(sysctl hw.ncpu | tr -d 'a-z.: ')

Packages and Ports management

Tips:

Remember to always check the /usr/ports/UPDATING file before upgrading. There might be some significant changes in programs you use or in their configuration which will break your current setup.