3 A useful python script: cvsupchk

Alternatively, in order to examine your sources for inconsistencies, you may wish to utilize the cvsupchk python script; which script is currently found in /usr/ports/net/cvsup/work/cvsup-16.1/contrib/cvsupchk, together with a nice README. Prerequisites:

1. /usr/ports/net/cvsup # make extract

2. python (also found in the ports collection :-))

3. a checkouts file for your collection of sources.

If you are updating your sources for the very first time, of course you do not have a checkouts file. After installing python and updating your sources (eg /usr/ports), you can check them thus:

% /path/to/cvsupchk -d /usr -c /usr/sup/ports-all/checkouts.cvs:. | more

If you want to check your RELENG_4 sources:

% /path/to/cvsupchk -d /usr -c /usr/sup/src-all/checkouts.cvs:RELENG_4 | more

In each case, cvsupchk will inspect your sources for inconsistencies by utilizing the information contained in the related checkouts file. Such anomalies as deleted files being present (aka stale files), missing checked-out files, extra RCS files, and dead directories will be printed to standard output.

In the next section, we will provide important, typical examples of source updating; which examples will show you the role of checkouts files and the dangers of negligent source management.