"port list" shows the latest version of a package as the version for all installed instances

[n2185x@…]

Port in the "list" command shows only the latest version (possibly the latest installed version, if the latest repository version is different) of any given package as the version associated with all installed instances of that package. See the below transcript for proof:

root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# ls /opt/local/var/macports/software/openssl/
0.9.8g_0        0.9.8k_0
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port list inactive | grep openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port list active | grep openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port deactivate openssl
--->  Deactivating openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port activate openssl@0.9.8g_0
--->  Activating openssl @0.9.8g_0
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port list inactive | grep openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port list active | grep openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port list installed | grep openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
openssl                        @0.9.8k         devel/openssl
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~#                 

This is with the (as of now) latest version of port available via selfupdate:

root@kevin-browns-macbook:~# port selfupdate

MacPorts base version 1.710 installed
Downloaded MacPorts base version 1.710

The MacPorts installation is not outdated so it was not updated
root@kevin-browns-macbook:~#

Needless to say, this defect makes it much more difficult to manage active versus inactive ports. Please fix it, or tell me how I can figure out why it's busted on my system.

[n2185x@…]

Cc Me!

[nerdling (Jeremy Lavergne)]

That looks like the epoch of that port was increased (epoch comes before version which comes before revision). 0_0.9.8k_2 versus 1_0.9.8k_0.

[blb@…]

That's how 'port list' works, you want to use 'port installed' instead (which can also be used with 'inactive' etc).

[n2185x@…]

Aha. You're right. "port installed" gets the right thing.

My apologies for wasting everyone's time. I feel like an idiot...