Re: user private groups and a src group

["James A. Robinson" <jimr@simons-rock.edu>]

> 	I am sorry that waste more bandwith by replying to this thread but
> Mr Jackson does not seem to accept that other people may have other opinion
> so I have to reply to explain again.

It seems that two debates exist,

	1.  Software development under the current layout WITHOUT
	    version control software is extremely difficult if
	    you have multiple developers.

	2. The current layout for new users and lazy users if
 	   difficult to manage, and the concept of groups is
           "useless" unless you actually use them.

It would seem that with combining Ian Murdock's proposal for making a
group for administration (widely accepted), version control software
on the /usr/src and /usr/local/src or whatever directories for
development, you can solve the problems in #1.  However, it seems that
we could use Ian Jackson's scheme to add a group for each user, and
use that layout ONLY on home directories.  Now this would be easily
added or removed depending on the taste of the administrator.

So we solve the problem of needing file locking on software under
development, allow non root users in a special group to install new
software and manuals, as well as give administrators the option to
make life easier for the newbie user who does not know about modes. It
ALSO gives the benefit of allowing the user to let selective other
people into their directories.

This of course means a lot more work for the debian team than just
"going one way."  If we combine the best of both ideas it seems that
while the Debian developers would have a little more work, it would
give a great deal of freedom to the admin to choose his/her stance on
what is obviously a volatile concept.

Jim Robinson

--
Jim Robinson           jimr@simons-rock.edu
Simon's Rock College   jimr@cs.wisc.edu