This script uses the existing ports infrastructure to track dependencies, and keep them up to date. It is written in /bin/sh so it has no dependencies.

Portmaster has the following features:

• Updates and repairs (as needed) entries for dependencies in both +CONTENTS and +REQUIRED_BY files for both the port that is being updated, and any ports that depend on it
• Runs make config recursively through all ports before starting build
• Downloads distfiles in the background
• Recursively checks and upgrades (or installs) all dependencies
• User can force upgrades of all dependent ports
• Offers the user the opportunity to delete stale distfiles
• Supports ports/MOVED and non-default settings of PORTSDIR and PKG_DBDIR
• Interactive update mode (prompts for each update)
• Option to rebuild port, and ports that depend on it
• Options to make packages out of installed, and new ports
• Option to clean out stale port dependencies
• Options to list installed ports by category, and those with new versions
• Packages can be used for installation either exclusively, if available, or only for build dependencies

WWW: http://portmaster.github.com

IRC: #portmaster @ Freenode