How to Uninstall and Reactivate Older Versions of Ports on macOS with MacPorts

Are you looking to uninstall and reactivate older versions of ports on your macOS device using MacPorts? If so, this article will guide you through the process.

When installing an older version of a port, you'll need to download the necessary files from the MacPorts Git repository. This can be done by manually downloading the older version of the portfile and associated files. Once downloaded, you can (re)install the older version using the `-u` flag when upgrading the port.

However, if you used the `-u` flag when upgrading a port, MacPorts would uninstall inactive versions after activating the latest one. This means that you won't be able to reactivate them later. To avoid this, use the `port -u upgrade tcl` command without the `-u` flag.

To uninstall an older version of a port, use the following command: `$ sudo port uninstall tcl`. Once you've uninstalled the old version, you can activate the new one using the `sudo port activate tcl` command. Similarly, to go back to the newer version, deactivate the current version and then reactivate it.

When upgrading an installed port, MacPorts deactivates the older version but keeps it installed. This allows you to reactivate it later if needed. Reactivating an older version that's still installed can be done by simply activating it using `sudo port activate tcl`.

However, installing an older version of a port is not recommended and may cause various problems. It's intended for troubleshooting purposes only. If you find that a newer version of software is broken and an older version works, please inform the developers so they can fix the issue.

In conclusion, uninstalling and reactivating older versions of ports on macOS with MacPorts requires some caution and knowledge of the process. By following these steps, you can successfully reinstall and reactivate older versions of ports for troubleshooting purposes.

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