The reliability and stability of FreeBSD come from a consisting system,
which can achieved easily by just stick to what's written in the HB,
and be easily disturbed by not to.
Quasi all issues of any software not working anymore under FreeBSD
are caused from installations or upgrades done not sticking to the HB,
e.g. mixing up ports and packages installations,
or trying to install versions not consisting to the rest of the system,
which again can only be done by not doing it like written in the HB.
Exception only if you have a very good reason not to,
including you know exactly what you're doing, and why.
If you want to install a software under FreeBSD,
always first check if there is a package for it:
# pkg search [name of sw]
If the software is capable of running under FreeBSD, quite sure you'll find the according package.
Stick to it.
Don't bother
if FreeBSD packages provide version 0.1.0.0.1, but yesterday 0.1.0.0.1.0-a was released.
Especially not, if your system lags behind 2 years ([in]consistency.)