Re: /etc getting bigger
On Sun, Jun 24, 2001 at 12:09:16PM -0400, Sam Hartman wrote:
> Yes, sort of. However, /usr is a special prefix; people expect
> software installed there to have configuration data in /etc. There
> used to be /usr/etc in the BSD 4.3 days and it was generally regarded
> as a bad idea. I don't think it included any data though.
>
Generally speaking, it doesn't seem to be in opposition with UNIX
conventions. I have some etc dirs in some of my codes, and even when
you install that on a windows system it makes some sense :)
> Note that for HURD, FSF argues that /usr shouldn't exist (or is a
> symlink). Personally I think they are on crack--they haven't
> justified the confusion created by the change.
>
Their point I guess is that this means the GNU system is complete.
Thus the system prefix is now root. Philosophically, it doesn't sound
harsh. When everday use considered however, I would prefer that
/ prefix means a fallback system that contains the general tools and
maintenance stuff. (perhaps the more general parts of the gnu system here)
/usr prefix means applications.
It all depends on what is convenient for users and developers.
> You should make sure that no packages are sticking stuff that should
> go in datadir in /etc.
Precisely. One should take care that files that ought to go to system
ro or rw data dirs are not installed in etc.
Thanks,
--
Eray Ozkural (exa) <erayo@cs.bilkent.edu.tr>,
Comp. Sci. Dept., Bilkent University, Ankara
www: http://www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~erayo
GPG public key fingerprint: 360C 852F 88B0 A745 F31B EA0F 7C07 AE16 874D 539C
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