Best System Utilities for FreeBSD

Rudix serves as a build system specifically designed for macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, while offering limited compatibility with OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and Linux. This build system, often referred to as "ports," supplies detailed guidance for compiling third-party software directly from the source code. Beyond merely functioning as a ports framework, Rudix includes a variety of packages and precompiled software packaged neatly in *.pkg files for straightforward installation on your Mac. Those interested in contributing to the project can find it on GitHub at rudix-mac or its mirrored version on GitLab at rudix. Users are encouraged to utilize the GitHub issue tracker for reporting bugs or suggesting new features. Alternatives to Rudix include similar projects like Fink, MacPorts, pkgsrc, and Homebrew, which also aim to simplify software installation on macOS. Packages are meticulously compiled and verified on macOS Big Sur (Version 11, Intel only!), Catalina (Version 10.15), and OS X El Capitan (Version 10.11). Each package is designed to be self-sufficient, containing all necessary components to function properly, with binaries, libraries, and documentation installed in the /usr/local/ directory. Furthermore, Rudix aims to enhance the user experience by providing a cohesive platform for software development and installation on macOS.

FPM is a versatile tool designed to simplify the process of creating packages for various operating systems, including Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS, among others. Rather than introducing a new packaging methodology, FPM serves as a facilitator, streamlining the creation of packages for existing systems with minimal effort. This is achieved through its user-friendly command-line interface, which enables users to generate packages with ease. Developed in Ruby, FPM can be installed via the gem package manager. However, for certain package formats, such as RPM and Snap, specific dependencies must be present on your machine to successfully build them. Additionally, when packaging for different operating systems or distributions, you may need to install other tools to ensure compatibility. FPM effectively transforms your software into easily installable packages across multiple platforms, capable of converting any Node.js package, Ruby gem, or Python package into formats like deb, rpm, or pacman. With FPM, the packaging process becomes significantly more efficient, saving developers both time and effort.

The smartmontools suite includes two key utilities, smartctl and smartd, designed to manage and oversee storage systems through the self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology integrated into the majority of contemporary ATA/SATA, SCSI/SAS, and NVMe drives. These tools often alert users to potential disk degradation and failure before they occur, offering invaluable preventative measures. Originally based on the Linux smartsuite package, smartmontools is compatible with ATA/SATA, SCSI/SAS, and NVMe drives, as well as SCSI/SAS tape devices. It is versatile enough to operate on a wide range of platforms, including modern versions of Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Darwin (macOS), Solaris, Windows, Cygwin, OS/2, eComStation, and QNX. Additionally, smartmontools can also be utilized from various live CDs/DVDs, enhancing its accessibility for users who may need it in different environments. This broad compatibility makes it a valuable tool for anyone looking to ensure the health and longevity of their storage systems.