I was building gnome-pilot then later it failed because it build
gnome1-panel but gnome1-panel could not install because
gnome-panel-2.2.2.2nb2 was already installed.

Maybe gnome-pilot could be made to use newer gnome-panel?

Anyways, my question is: is there a way (or would it be useful) to have
pkgsrc check if it can install something before it even wastes times
building?

   Jeremy C. Reed
   http://bsd.reedmedia.net/