> All programs must read proxy information from /etc/proxy (whatever > format you want to make this, it could even be a base-like syntax for > setting the http_* environment variables). > > However, if the defacto standard user environment variables > have been configured, then these must be used instead. > > The only downside to this is that it is going increase complexity. > However, I think a library could be implemented that hides this > complexity, eg much like liblockfile. > > However, I think this would satisfy the concerns I can see from both > sides of the fence. ie it allows the system administrator to set up > site wide defaults, while allowing users to override this if desired.
It's a bit complex, and requires modifications to every program that uses HTTP, but the modifications are simple, and it would be a nice thing to have. In most HTTP clients would be just adding a call to a function that sets the env vars according to this file... I don't know much about debconf, but couldn't this variables stored in that database?
