Link:
Project repository URL: https://gitlab.com/alfix/portoptscli

Contact: Alfonso Sabato Siciliano <asiciliano@FreeBSD.org>
Contact: FreeBSD Accessibility mailing list <freebsd-accessibility@FreeBSD.org>

FreeBSD provides the Ports Collection to give users and administrators a simple way to install applications. It is possible to configure a port before the building and installation. The command make config uses ports-mgmt/dialog4ports and ports-mgmt/portconfig to set up a port interactively via a text user interface (TUI).

Unfortunately, screen readers perform poorly with a TUI; it is a well-known accessibility problem. FreeBSD provides tens of thousands of ports; port configuration is a key feature, but it is inaccessible to users with vision impairment.

PortOptsCLI (Port Options CLI) is a new utility for setting port options via a command line interface. Properly, PortOptsCLI provides commands to navigate configuration dialogues (checklists and/or radio buttons) and set up their items interactively. It is also suitable for a speech synthesizer; currently it is tested with accessibility/orca. PortOptsCLI can be installed via the ports-mgmt/portoptscli port or package.

Tips and new ideas are welcome. If possible, send reports to the FreeBSD Accessibility mailing list, to share and to track discussions in a public place.