Solving the Unpacking Error of Texlive-latexextra-2021 on Mac

As a LaTeX user, you may encounter issues while updating packages. One such error is the unpacking phase failure when trying to update `texlive-latexextra-2021` on your Mac. This article will guide you through troubleshooting and resolving this issue.

The problem arises when attempting to update `texlive-latexextra-2021`, with an error message indicating that the package list has grown too big, without providing a clear solution. The error message is as follows:

`ERROR: dev-texlive/texlive-latexextra-2021::gentoo failed (unpack phase): Unpacking to /var/tmp/portage/dev-texlive/texlive-latexextra-2021/work`

To resolve this issue, you can try launching `ebuild` as root and using the bash shell instead of zsh. This simple switch may solve the problem.

In my experience, I encountered the same error on my laptop while updating `texlive-latexextra-2021`, but it worked smoothly on my desktop. By using bash instead of zsh, I was able to successfully update the package and continue with my LaTeX workflow.

If you are still facing issues after trying this solution, you may want to consider seeking further assistance from the Gentoo Forums community or exploring other troubleshooting options specific to your Mac setup.

In conclusion, updating packages can be a challenging task, especially when encountering errors. By understanding the error message and trying simple solutions like switching shells, you can resolve common issues and continue using LaTeX on your Mac with confidence.

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