On Fri, 20 Feb 1998, Joey Hess wrote:
[snip]
> Policy says:
>
> 3.3.5. Symbolic links
> ---------------------
>
> Most symbolic links should be relative, not absolute. Absolute links,
> in general, cause problems when a file system is not mounted where it
> "normally" resides (for example, when mounted via NFS).
>
> In particular, symbolic links from one part of `/usr' to another
> should be relative.
>
> In certain cases, however, relative links may cause more problems. For
> example, links into `/etc' and `/var' should be absolute.
>
> According to Joost and others who posted in the previous thread, symlinks
> into /usr (from /var or some other top level directory hierarchy other than
> /usr) should be absolute too. Do any people still disagree? I'd like to
> get policy changed if everyone agrees /usr should be listed too.
I agree that the policy should be clarified. In short: Symbolic links
_within_ a top level directory should be relative, symbolic links
_between_ top level directories should be absolute.
Examples how things should be set up according to this policy:
/usr/X11R6/man/man1/foo.1x.gz ->
../../../man/man7/undocumented.7.gz
(relative link)
/usr/X11R6/lib/foo/data -> /var/lib/foo
(absolute link)
Note, that I think is what the policy says already--it just has to be
`clarified'. I'll prepare a change for the next release of the policy
manual.
Thanks,
Chris
-- Christian Schwarz
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