FreeBSD compiles should automatically add --extra-lib-dirs=/usr/local/lib

[markstos]

FreeBSD stores a number of standard things in /usr/local/lib, such as the 'curl' libraries that darcs needs to compile against. Cabal should detect that FreeBSD is the platform and look in this lib directory automatically.

Reference my experience trying to install darcs on FreeBSD:  http://www.mail-archive.com/darcs-users@darcs.net/msg12611.html

[duncan]

Of course users can change their ~/.cabal/config to specify that headers and libs should also be looked for in /usr/local/include and /usr/local/lib.

I'm suspicious of making that the default and overriding the existing system default. If it should be the default for FreeBSD because essential parts of the system are installed in /usr/local then why isn't it the system default already? Surely we should use the default system linker path. If a C lib is not available on the default path then it requires intervention from the user. Surely FreeBSD users must be used to this? What do other package managers on FreeBSD do? Do they really compensate for silly system defaults?

[duncan]

Nothing is going to happen with this ticket unless we get some feedback from FreeBSD users/developers.

[elga]

*  rio bouygues