> Indeed unless the pkgsrc maintainer can guarantee ABI compatability
> between the old and new library then there's no choice but to recompile
> and re-link all dependents, if you want good reliable software built in
> a hygienic fasion that guarantees not to introduce new bugs, that is.

For shared libraries, why not version them every time they are built?
(ie with the date/time) and bung that into the SONAME and hence into
the NEEDED entries on the binaries.

That way any program will always run with the version of the library
that was present when it was compiled.
All you need then do is remember which binaries have NEEDED entries
for which libraries, and only delete the library itself when all the
referencing programs have been removed.

	David

-- 
David Laight: david@l8s.co.uk