The following reply was made to PR pkg/36473; it has been noted by GNATS.

From: "OBATA Akio" <obache@netbsd.org>
To: gnats-bugs@netbsd.org
Cc: 
Subject: Re: pkg/36473: Postpone ${DISTDIR} write permission check till it's really needed
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:17:18 +0900

 On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:10:00 +0900, Aleksej Saushev <asau@hotbox.ru> wrote:
 
 > When write permission is checked after it's made sure
 > distribution file is missing, it becomes possible to use the
 > same DISTDIR for private pkgsrc tree in more convenient way.
 > It allows building from read-only DISTDIR.
 > The regular user is no longer forced to create links into
 > "system-wide" DISTDIR nor to loose his efforts just to make
 > separate custom installation of ported software.
 
 Normally, mk/fetc/fetch is never called if all DISTFILES exists in DISTDIR.
 In what situation, is mk/fetch/fetch called even if all DISTFILE exists?
 
 -- 
 "Of course I love NetBSD":-)
 OBATA Akio / obache@NetBSD.org