On 2008-07-09 14:46:22 +0200, Vincent Zweije wrote: > On Wed, Jul 09, 2008 at 01:14:25PM +0200, Vincent Lefevre wrote: > || The .desktop file distributed with the evince package > || (/usr/share/applications/evince.desktop) contains: > || > || Exec=evince %U > || > || meaning that the user's $PATH is taken into account. In general, > || taking $PATH into account is recommended, but IMHO, this should > || not be the case here, because of the following points (related > || to each other): > || > || 1. This .desktop file is a file associated with /usr/bin/evince > || (distributed in the same package...). > > NFS-mounted /home could be used on multiple computers, where the same > (compatible) evince is installed at different locations.
You didn't read my mail. I'm talking about Debian's evince package, for which evince is installed in /usr/bin. Also, the .desktop file distributed with this package is not in /home, but in /usr/share/applications/. If the .desktop file is there to work also with other evince binaries (installed elsewhere), then it shouldn't be distributed in the evince package, but in a more general package for GNOME support. Indeed, if the evince application is installed somewhere else and the user wants to run this version, then he doesn't need the evince package. > || 3. In config files, $PATH is generally used when one doesn't know > || the location of the program, for flexibility, but this is not > || the case here (see point 1). > > PATH is part of the environment. An eminent use of environment is to > inform programs of precisely that: their environment, such as where > other programs are to be found. Use it, that's what it's for. Again you missed the point: it is useless here since the evince provided by the evince package is in /usr/bin. If the user has an evince installed somewhere else, see the above discussion. > Not using PATH to locate programs would be an exception to this > rule. You don't want exceptions, because it hampers the > predictability of the system. Depending on the environment makes the system less predictable. -- Vincent Lefèvre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Web: <http://www.vinc17.org/> 100% accessible validated (X)HTML - Blog: <http://www.vinc17.org/blog/> Work: CR INRIA - computer arithmetic / Arenaire project (LIP, ENS-Lyon) -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
