pkgsrc VS aurutils

• Cross-Platform Support
  pkgsrc is designed to be a portable package management system and can be used on a variety of Unix-like operating systems, including NetBSD, Solaris, Linux, and macOS. This cross-platform capability makes it a versatile tool for developers working in diverse environments.
• Consistency Across Systems
  Using pkgsrc allows for a consistent package management experience regardless of the underlying operating system, reducing the learning curve and maintenance overhead for administrators managing multiple systems.
• Comprehensive Package Collection
  pkgsrc offers a wide range of software packages, providing a robust collection that can meet diverse user needs from scientific libraries to web applications.
• Quarterly Releases
  With quarterly releases, pkgsrc provides a balanced approach between stability and keeping software up to date, offering users new features regularly while maintaining reliability.
• Flexible Build Options
  pkgsrc supports a flexible build system, allowing users to customize package builds with specific options or dependencies, tailored to their specific needs or system requirements.

Possible disadvantages

• Smaller Community
  Compared to other popular package management systems like apt (Debian/Ubuntu) or yum (RedHat/CentOS), pkgsrc has a relatively smaller community, which might affect the availability of support and community-driven improvements.
• Potentially Older Software
  While pkgsrc maintains stable quarterly releases, it may occasionally lag behind other systems in terms of offering the very latest versions of certain software, which might not be ideal for users needing the newest features.
• Manual Configuration
  Setting up pkgsrc might require manual interventions and configurations, which could pose a hurdle for users unfamiliar with its setup process or those who prefer more automated solutions.
• Dependency Management
  Although pkgsrc is quite capable in dependency handling, some users may find its dependency resolution to be less automatic or seamless compared to other systems which offer more integrated solutions.
• Performance Overhead
  Because it is designed to be cross-platform, there can be some performance overhead associated with using pkgsrc compared to native package managers that are optimized for specific operating systems.

• Streamlined AUR Management
  Aurutils provides a suite of command-line utilities that streamline the process of managing packages from the Arch User Repository (AUR), making it easier and more efficient to install, update, and manage AUR packages.
• Integration with Pacman
  Aurutils integrates well with Pacman, Arch Linux's package manager, allowing users to manage AUR packages alongside official repository packages, thereby maintaining a consistent package management experience.
• Custom Repository Support
  Aurutils allows users to create and maintain custom binary repositories of AUR packages, which can facilitate faster installations and allow multiple machines to share built packages.
• Automation of Package Builds
  It automates many of the steps involved in building and installing AUR packages, such as dependency management and cleaning up build files, which helps reduce errors and saves time.

Possible disadvantages

• Learning Curve
  Aurutils, being a set of command-line tools, may present a steep learning curve for users who are less experienced with terminal-based operations or Arch Linux's package management system.
• Complexity of Setup
  Setting up and configuring aurutils initially can be more complex compared to some other AUR helpers, as it may require more manual handling and configuration, especially when setting up custom repositories.
• Limited Graphical User Interface Support
  Aurutils is primarily designed for use in the command line, which might not appeal to users looking for a graphical interface to manage AUR packages.
• Dependency on External Tools
  Aurutils relies on other command-line tools and scripts, such as makepkg and repo-add, which might not be intuitive for users unfamiliar with these resources, potentially making troubleshooting more challenging.

pkgsrc on ChromeOS

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AUR helpers - Full Installation Guide for Aurutils

• What the heck is /pkg?

  As a NetBSD user, I would guess it is for use with pkgsrc. That would be great for mac people if my wild guess is correct. http://pkgsrc.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 days ago

• Debian isn't waiting for 2038 to blow up, switches to 64-bit time for everything

  > Most open source software packages are also compiled for BSD variants, they switched to 64 bit time_t a long time ago and reported back upstream any problems. * NetBSD in 2012:... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago

• Our Audit of Homebrew

  > https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/install-on-macos/ Note that Pkgsrc is a NetBSD-derived project. * https://pkgsrc.org The Joyent folks leveraged it to allow their customers, who were perhaps not as familiar with Solaris/SmartOS, a... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

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Tracking aurutils since Mar 2021.