Re: [Call for testers] "BSD ar"

On Sat, Jan 12, 2008 at 08:21:38AM +0100, Kai Wang wrote:
> The recommended way is: (for now)
> 
> 1. Backup your GNU ar first:
>   % cp /usr/bin/ar SOME_BACKUP_DIR
> 
> 2. Build BSD ar
>   extract the tarball
>   % cd ar
>   % make
> 
> 3. Replace
>   # cp ./ar /usr/bin/ar
>   # cd /usr/bin
>   # ln -f ar ranlib
> 
> Then you can do something like ports build or "make buildworld"
> to try it out.
> 
> Later when you need to recover GNU ar:
> 
>   # cp SOME_BACKUP_DIR/ar /usr/bin/ar
>   # cd /usr/bin
>   # ln -f ar ranlib

This won't work as GNU ranlib is not merely a hardlink to ar.
Thus correct way would be:

1. Backup your GNU ar and ranlib first:
   % cp /usr/bin/ar SOME_BACKUP_DIR
   % cp /usr/bin/ranlib SOME_BACKUP_DIR
 
2. Build BSD ar
   extract the tarball
   % cd ar
   % make
 
3. Replace
   # cp ./ar /usr/bin/ar
   # cd /usr/bin
   # ln -f ar ranlib


When recover GNU ar:

   # cp SOME_BACKUP_DIR/ar /usr/bin/ar
   # cp SOME_BACKUP_DIR/ranlib /usr/bin/ranlib

Sorry for the mess...

BTW: I'm working on a patch for -CURRENT as peter_at_ just suggested.