Re: [LUG] /opt

[Neil Williams <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:43:07 +0000
g_remlin <g_remlin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > I put all my development work under /opt - the point is that a
> > package must not do so - precisely because /opt/ can be used for
> > such purposes and there is no way of knowing whether stuff exists
> > in the directory contained in the package. Packages must not
> > override user data and as /opt/ is reserved for user data (where
> > user can also mean local admin use), packages have no right to put
> > anything there.
> >    
> Version 2.3 of the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (in part) states:
> 
> "/opt is reserved for the installation of add-on application software 
> packages.
> A package to be installed in /opt must locate its static ïles in a 
> separate /opt/<package> or
> /opt/<provider> directory tree, where <package> is a name that
> describes the software package and
> <provider> is the providerâs LANANA registered name."

As the second part confirms, these are local packages being described,
optional bits. The package manager (apt, dpkg etc.) cannot assume that
anything in /opt/ now will still be there next time - it's add-on,
optional, local stuff.

> and
> 
> "The
> directories /opt/bin, /opt/doc, /opt/include, /opt/info, /opt/lib,
> and /opt/man are reserved for local system administrator use.

So the local admin (anyone with the root password or sudo privileges)
must be allowed to do 'sudo rm -rf /opt/' and *system* packages
(installed via system tools like apt, aptitude etc. and existing in
public repositories) must still continue to operate, albeit without
some add-ons but the local admin is responsible for handling those
anyway.

> Packages may provide "front-end" ïles intended to be placed in (by
> linking or copying) these reserved directories by the local system
> administrator, but must function normally in the absence
> of these reserved directories."

The files intended to be copied or symlinked into /opt/ therefore need
to exist in standard FHS directories, beneath /usr/ 

-- 


Neil Williams
=============
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