Bug#158497: _PATH_*PATH variables in <paths.h> don't conform to debian standards
Hi,
At Tue, 27 Aug 2002 18:05:42 +0200,
Robert Millan wrote:
> Looking at paths.h:
>
> /* Default search path. */
> #define _PATH_DEFPATH "/usr/bin:/bin"
> /* All standard utilities path. */
> #define _PATH_STDPATH \
> "/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin"
>
> This is suposed to contain the "default" and "standard" paths
> for system users. Paths in Debian are defined by the ENV_PATH
> and ENV_SUPATH variables in /etc/login.defs, which default to:
_PATH_STDPATH is derived from BSD. I guess in past there have been
occured by some reason, but it's obsolete and only there for
historical purpose.
> ENV_SUPATH PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/local/sbin\:/usr/local/bin
> ENV_PATH PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/games
>
> I think these are saner and the GNU project should accept them for
> glibc. Even if they don't we should have them in Debian, for they
> are the default here as choosen in /etc/login.defs.
_PATH_STDPATH is described as "All standard utilities path". Are both
X11 and games really "standard utilities"? No.
> I made up a fixed version where _PATH_STDPATH contains Debian's
> requirements and _PATH_DEFPATH a set of essential directories,
> excluding X11, local and games.
>
> Also, _PATH_*PATH_ROOT are missing but used in some places so
> i'm including them too.
Don't play with the standard headers. Your request seems very strange
for me. (1) Who use this definition? (2) This definition is not
standard one, but historical derivation from old BSD days, so we
should avoid to use this. (3) If we add it, someone may use this
definition. Everytime we have to think adding the inappropriate entry
affects the future fetters.
Moreover, is it useful to add your patch? I think the answer is No.
We should not use such a definition. OTOH, Use another definition,
for example configure prefix, configurable user interface, or so.
If you complain my negative thoughts of this patch, please provide the
real problem or concrete necessity. Otherwise I close this bug.
Regards,
-- gotom
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