Added Package Management Process and linked it in Ports contributors' documentation.

Author: ericbsd

contributor/ports/index.md

@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 
 Welcome to the GhostBSD ports contribution documentation! Here’s how you can help maintain our ports tree and updated ports.
 
+- [Package Management Process](package-process.md) - Understanding GhostBSD's three-tier package repository system
 - [Maintaining GhostBSD Ports in Sync with FreeBSD Ports](maintaining-ports-tree.md) - Learn how to keep our ports current with FreeBSD.

contributor/ports/package-process.md

@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+# Package Management Process
+
+GhostBSD operates a three-tier package repository system that delivers stable packages to users while supporting continuous development and thorough testing.
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+GhostBSD maintains three distinct package repositories:
+
+### Unstable Repository
+- **Purpose**: Developer playground and experimental builds
+- **Target Users**: Developers working on new features and ports
+- **FreeBSD Base**: Tracks the next FreeBSD releng development branch (e.g., releng/15.0 when created)
+- **Update Frequency**: Independent development builds
+- **Risk Level**: High - experimental features and bleeding-edge development
+- **Isolation**: Operates independently from testing and stable repositories
+
+### Testing Repository  
+- **Purpose**: Pre-production testing environment (what "unstable" was previously)
+- **Target Users**: Contributors and community members who help test packages
+- **FreeBSD Base**: Current stable FreeBSD release (e.g., 14.3-RELEASE)
+- **Update Frequency**: Regular builds awaiting validation before user deployment
+- **Risk Level**: Medium - packages undergo testing before reaching users
+
+### Stable Repository
+- **Purpose**: Production packages for end users
+- **Target Users**: All GhostBSD users
+- **FreeBSD Base**: Current stable FreeBSD release
+- **Update Frequency**: Synchronized from testing after validation
+- **Risk Level**: Low - fully tested and validated packages
+
+## Package Flow
+
+```
+[Unstable]     [Testing] → [Stable]
+     ↓              ↓          ↓
+Development   Community   Production
+(Independent)  Testing
+```
+
+### How Packages Move
+
+1. **Unstable Repository (Independent Development)**
+   - Developers build and test experimental features
+   - Tracks the next FreeBSD releng development branch for early compatibility testing
+   - Packages do not automatically flow to testing or stable
+   - Provides early feedback on upcoming FreeBSD version compatibility
+
+2. **Testing to Stable Flow**
+   - Testing serves as the validation environment before user deployment
+   - Packages undergo builds and testing in the testing repository
+   - Only after thorough testing are packages synchronized to stable
+   - Same repository build with testing gates before promotion to stable
+
+## Package Repository Configuration
+
+#### Stable (Default for Users)
+```
+GhostBSD: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/stable/${ABI}/latest",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+
+GhostBSD-base: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/stable/${ABI}/base",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+```
+
+#### Testing (For Contributors and Community Testers)
+```
+GhostBSD: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/testing/${ABI}/latest",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+
+GhostBSD-base: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/testing/${ABI}/base",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+```
+
+#### Unstable (For Developers)
+```
+GhostBSD: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/unstable/${ABI}/latest",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+
+GhostBSD-base: {
+  url: "https://pkg.ghostbsd.org/unstable/${ABI}/base",
+  signature_type: "pubkey",
+  pubkey: "/usr/share/keys/ssl/certs/ghostbsd.cert",
+  enabled: yes
+}
+```
+
+## System Benefits
+
+### For Developers
+- **Sandbox Environment**: Unstable provides an isolated development environment
+- **Early FreeBSD Testing**: Developers test against the next FreeBSD releng development branch
+- **No User Impact**: Development work does not affect testing or production users
+
+### For Contributors and Community Testers
+- **Focused Validation**: Testing repository focuses on pre-production validation
+- **Stable Base**: Built on stable FreeBSD releases for consistent testing environments
+- **Clear Gateway**: Serves as the final validation gate before user deployment
+
+### For Users
+- **Proven Stability**: Packages reach users only after community testing validation
+- **Reliable Updates**: Community testing ensures package quality before deployment
+- **Consistent Experience**: Built on stable FreeBSD releases
+
+## Repository Operations
+
+### FreeBSD Release Alignment
+
+When FreeBSD creates a new releng development branch (e.g., `releng/15.0`):
+
+1. **Unstable** switches to track the next FreeBSD releng development branch
+2. **Testing** continues operating with current stable FreeBSD (14.3-RELEASE) 
+3. **Stable** remains synchronized with testing
+
+This operational model:
+- Detects FreeBSD compatibility issues early in unstable
+- Provides extended testing periods for major FreeBSD updates
+- Ensures smooth transitions for end users via the testing→stable flow
+
+### Development Operations
+
+#### Experimental Development
+- Developers operate in the unstable repository for experimental work
+- Features are developed and tested against the next FreeBSD releng development branch
+- No automatic promotion to testing occurs - requires deliberate decisions
+
+#### Production Pipeline
+1. Packages are built in testing repository
+2. Community validation and testing procedures are applied
+3. Successful packages are synchronized to stable for users
+
+#### Security Updates (CVEs)
+1. Security updates are built and tested in testing repository
+2. Expedited community validation processes are applied
+3. Quick synchronization to stable for security patches
+
+## System Implementation
+
+### Build Infrastructure
+- Independent build environment for unstable (next FreeBSD releng development branch)
+- Shared build infrastructure for testing/stable (same repository with different promotion stages)
+- Automated synchronization mechanisms from testing to stable
+
+### Testing Procedures
+- Community testing in testing repository before stable promotion
+- Validation gates before synchronization to stable
+- Community-driven validation processes
+
+### User Communication
+- Documentation of repository purposes
+- Guidelines for developers on unstable usage
+- Release notes for testing→stable promotions
+
+## Historical Context
+
+GhostBSD's three-tier system addresses challenges from previous approaches:
+
+- **Previous Two-Tier System**: Unstable served dual purposes of development and pre-production testing
+- **Developer Isolation**: Developers now operate in an experimental environment without affecting the user pipeline
+- **Testing Clarity**: Testing repository now operates as a focused pre-production environment
+
+This system separates development experimentation from the user-focused testing→stable pipeline while giving developers early access to the next FreeBSD releng development branches.