@UnifiUpdate --
ports -- tree where you build programs and dependencies from source. Usually ports tree has newer releases soon after the sources are released. Advantage is usually there are newer packages, however there is definitely a lot more potential problems with dependencies and oftentimes the program won't compile. Sometimes when things compile the process could be long -- like several hours.
pkg - FreeBSD maintainers have already done the hard work and have compiled the program. Usually pkgs are a little bit behind the ports tree, however pkgs usually install without any issues. Sometimes there are dependency problems, and if this occurs the pkgs will lag behind ports for possibly sometime until either the source or pkg container figures things out. Pkgs install quick but they possibly may be older versions. You may also want to make sure that the pkg source -- you're pulling from latest rather than the quarterly branch. This is an ABI setting. pkg -vv will tell you what branch you are pulling from. This post here kind of explains what I'm talking about: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/is-freebsd-pkg-command-pointing-to-latest-repository.67571/
As a general rule -- unless you are a developer or you actually need --- I mean really need -- the new capabilities in the newer releases, I'd almost always recommend sticking with the pkg install method. It's almost foolproof. I'm not sure what youre doing with your unifi controller software -- however often with mine I set it up, tinker, and then kind of forget about it. I can't say I hunt the latest and greatest features for this utility.
ports -- tree where you build programs and dependencies from source. Usually ports tree has newer releases soon after the sources are released. Advantage is usually there are newer packages, however there is definitely a lot more potential problems with dependencies and oftentimes the program won't compile. Sometimes when things compile the process could be long -- like several hours.
pkg - FreeBSD maintainers have already done the hard work and have compiled the program. Usually pkgs are a little bit behind the ports tree, however pkgs usually install without any issues. Sometimes there are dependency problems, and if this occurs the pkgs will lag behind ports for possibly sometime until either the source or pkg container figures things out. Pkgs install quick but they possibly may be older versions. You may also want to make sure that the pkg source -- you're pulling from latest rather than the quarterly branch. This is an ABI setting. pkg -vv will tell you what branch you are pulling from. This post here kind of explains what I'm talking about: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/is-freebsd-pkg-command-pointing-to-latest-repository.67571/
As a general rule -- unless you are a developer or you actually need --- I mean really need -- the new capabilities in the newer releases, I'd almost always recommend sticking with the pkg install method. It's almost foolproof. I'm not sure what youre doing with your unifi controller software -- however often with mine I set it up, tinker, and then kind of forget about it. I can't say I hunt the latest and greatest features for this utility.