Re: It's Huntin' Season
>>"Peter" == Peter S Galbraith <p.galbraith@globetrotter.net> writes:
Peter> Emacs policy dictates that elisp files that are eval'ed at
Peter> Emacs startup go under /etc/emacs. However, these aren't
Peter> necessarily configuration files
Say what?
======================================================================
configuration file
A file that affects the operation of a program, or provides site-
or host-specific information, or otherwise customizes the
behavior of a program. Typically, configuration files are
intended to be modified by the system administrator (if needed or
desired) to conform to local policy or to provide more useful
site-specific behavior.
======================================================================
When I load an emacs start up file, typically the behacviour
of emacs changes. For example, auc tex, cperl, psgml, et. al. replace
the default handling of certain files with wildly different
behaviour.
Peter> (even if policy dictates that they be conffiles). So that's a
Peter> problem with Emacs policy. (e.g. lots of other programs load
Peter> some init code at startup that isn't stored under /etc nor
Peter> tagged as conffiles.)
That is not germane to the discussion, but these programs may
be buggy as well, if these start up code modifirs program behaviour:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any configuration files created or used by your package must reside in
`/etc'. If there are several you should consider creating a
subdirectory of `/etc' named after your package.
If your package creates or uses configuration files outside of `/etc',
and it is not feasible to modify the package to use the `/etc', you
should still put the files in `/etc' and create symbolic links to
those files from the location that the package requires.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am not saying you can't read init code from anywhere but
/etc (not yet, anyway). But if it is optionally changing program
behaviour, as opposed to reading static data, and if a user can add
or somehow change the configuration (whether or not you think she
ought to or may reasonably need to or not), they should bge in /etc,
and they should be editable.
Peter> It doesn't usually hurt much of anything by tagging them as
Peter> such except that half (or so) of us hadn't done so. Also,
Then your program is buggy, cause you did not read policy.
Peter> Tagging them as conffiles has the drawback that it leaves crud
Peter> on the system when you remove instead of purge the package.
That is true of all conffiles.
manoj
--
Armitage crossed stiffly to the table and took three fat bundles of
New Yen from the pockets of his trenchcoat. "You want to count it?"
he asked Yonderboy. "No," the Panther Modern said. You'll pay.
You're a Mr. Who. You pay to stay one. Not a Mr. Name." William
Gibson, "Neuromancer"
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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