[olug] Installing software under /usr/local

[Jonathan Warren]

I install my new apps to there own directory usually under opt.  I use /usr/local for testing just because most configure scripts default to there.  Instead of adding all the apps to your path you may want to use symbolic links from the /usr/local/app/bin/appname to /usr/local/bin.  

The only exception would be a library that needs to be available to more than one application.  They still need to be in the system library path.  

Also to note if I keep my slackware source tree updated it contains the build script.  this makes it very convenient for upgrading a package and having it use all the same configure options.  I don't know if there is something similar for the other distros or not.  If anyone  wants the slackware-current and source trees I maintain a local copy rsync'd twice a day.

-Jon

On Wed, Feb 26, 2003 at 01:54:26PM -0600, Dave Burchell wrote:
> I feel bad about promulgating the (admittedly trivial) flame war, so I'm
> going to ask a legit question.
> 
> Let's say I have a fine Linux box and most of my software has come
> to me as RPMs or .deb files.  But, I need to pick up the sources
> for a more recent version of some software, and I want to install it
> under "/usr/local".  Let's say I want the latest version of The GIMP.
> Should I install it under a directory I create called "/usr/local/gimp"
> or should I put The Gimp's libs under "/usr/local/lib", the executable
> under "/usr/local/bin", and so on?
> 
> I've always leaned towards putting all the files under
> their own directory, then adding those that I want to my path
> (PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/gimp/bin).  That way I can keep the software
> versions straight, but it can be inconvenient when adding new users to the
> system and lead to a long path.
> 
> Comments?  Opinions?
> 
> -- 
> Dave Burchell                                          40.49'N, 96.41'W
> Free your mind and your software will follow.              402-467-1619
> http://incolor.inetnebr.com/burchell/                  burchell at acm.org     
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