Can you describe more how it worked? I would assume as it's based on bsd ports that one is simply using a common Make file library and then building fairly Independant components.

The problem presumably starts when decomposing a monolithic build and how do you pull it all together again?

I have stalled at pyholodeck.mikadosoftware.com and need some inspiration to pick that over the 100 other things I needs to do :-)