Re: Sun's java SDK on Debian Woody.

[Egon Willighagen <egonw@sci.kun.nl>]

Op vrijdag 28 februari 2003 23:02, schreef David Jardine:
> >         We will now create the necessary links typing this into the
> > console:
> >
> >         $ ln -s /usr/local/bin/j2sdk1.4.1_01/bin* /usr/bin
>
> Why does it have to be moved?  Doesn't this mess up
> the Debian packaging system?  Wouldn't it work from
> /usr/local/bin?  Sorry if those are stupid questions :(

First, the files are not moved, but links are created.
Second, this is *not* the Debian way...

The program update-alternatives should be used:

$ update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java \
   /usr/local/bin/j2sdk1.4.1_01/bin/java 100
$ update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/jar jar \
   /usr/local/bin/j2sdk1.4.1_01/bin/jar 100
$ update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac \
   /usr/local/bin/j2sdk1.4.1_01/bin/javac 100

and then you can use 'update-alternatives --config java' (etc)
to create /usr/bin/java (etc)...

This mechanism thus allows for other JVM's to be installed as well,
while keeping /usr/bin/java general...

Egon