%% Alexandre Oliva <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
ao> On Aug 29, 2000, Richard Stallman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> So the only question is, should we change the default for --sysconfdir?
>> Only if we also specify that packages shouldn't install anything in
>> sysconfdir with `make install', only with `install-sysconf'.
>> Why do you think `make install' should not install them in /etc?
ao> Because `make install' is not supposed to install anything outside
ao> --prefix. As I wrote before, people often install software as
ao> non-root, and it's a nuisance when `make install' fails because the
ao> software inadvertently tries to install something in /etc or
ao> /usr/local just because they think it's right.
I have another, related reason. I maintain a huge archive of free
software that everyone here mounts via NFS on their local systems.
Any config files which install in (e.g.) /etc cause problems for me,
because they install in my local system's /etc. Obviously that's not
going to work for everyone else.
I prefer Greg's idea: when there are really system-specific files that
only examples be installed, under ${prefix}, by "make install", then
users can copy those to their own system (or, perhaps, there is some
script or config tool that comes with the package to "set it up" on an
individual's system).
--
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Paul D. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Network Management Development
"Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist
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These are my opinions---Nortel Networks takes no responsibility for them.
