Chapter 1. Help | FreeBSD Documentation Portal
Description: Where to get help
Keywords: Accessibility,Help

# Chapter 1. Help

## 1.1. Mailing Lists

Mailing lists are the primary communication channel for the FreeBSD community, covering a wide range of topics related to the project. Messages are typically written in plain text without graphical elements, making them well-suited for use with screen readers (both Braille displays and speech synthesizers). A complete list of available mailing lists can be found at: https://lists.freebsd.org/.

For accessibility issues, the main point of contact is the FreeBSD Accessibility Mailing List. To subscribe, browse the archive, send messages, or manage your subscription, visit: https://lists.freebsd.org/subscription/freebsd-accessibility

## 1.2. Chat

FreeBSD users and developers are also active on IRC (Internet Relay Chat), where real-time communication takes place. A complete list of servers and channels is available at: https://wiki.freebsd.org/IRC/Channels Messages are typically exchanged in plain text, making IRC well-suited for screen readers (both Braille displays and speech synthesizers).

## 1.3. Ports and Packages

If the issue pertains to an external tool installed through a port or package, consider including the port maintainer in the discussion to ensure proper attention and resolution.

To find out who maintains a specific port, navigate to the port’s directory and run the command `make maintainer`. For example, to find the maintainer of the www/edbrowse port, run:

    % cd /usr/ports/www/edbrowse
    % make maintainer

To find the maintainer of an installed package, use the `pkg info -f package`. For example:

    % pkg info -f edbrowse | grep Maintainer | awk '{print $3}'

Last modified on: November 24, 2025 by Alfonso S. Siciliano

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