When you write a program in Linux, let's say a C++ or Java application, do you really have to save various parts of your application in various sub-directories:
/usr/local/bin - executables
/usr/local/etc - configuration files
/usr/local/lib - libraries
/usr/local/man - manuals
Wouldn't this increase the chance that you create files with the same names as files in other applications and hence overwrite them?
Isn't this the problem that Windows has with its .DLLs?
Tyr-7BE
03-04-2001, 06:19 AM
You don't HAVE to do anything in linux...you just have to strongarm it into doing exactly what you want :)
Seriously, that's just the tradition. It's possible to put a config file in /bin, but with that comes a few problems, first and foremost, your filesystem will be a MESS. I usually put everything I need in a sub-directory of ~/ (/home/user/). You might want to put symlinks to your programs in your path directories. In order to do this, first find out what directories are in your path by typing "echo $PATH". Choose one of the directories (/usr/bin or /usr/local/bin are typical for user-built custom files that should be executable). Now try this: ln   -s   <path to your executable>   /usr/local/bin/<InsertName> What this does is make a link to your executable (whatever path you defined), and puts that link in /usr/local/bin/. Now whatever name you put in place of <InsertName> can be executed from anywhere in your file system, and upon being called will automatically call your program to which it is linked.
[ 04 March 2001: Message edited by: Tyr-7BE ]
[ 04 March 2001: Message edited by: Tyr-7BE ]