begin craigw quotation: > > The /usr/local hierarchy is for use by the system administrator when > installing software locally > > /opt is reserved for the installation of add-on application software > packages. > > > Hmmm.... I'm not seeing much of a distinction.
As someone else has mentioned, a convention has existed for some time regarding the difference, and it may simply be that the FHS people didn't stop to consider that many folks don't know that convention. The convention, and I'm by no means suggesting that everybody follows it, is for /usr/local to contain things the local administration compiles, and /opt to contain things customarily distributed in binary form. As I said, this isn't universally followed, and I agree that the FHS should be more explicit on the subject. Frankly, I agree with you in principle that they don't both need to exist, and I think in that case it makes sense for it to be a directory hung off the root, instead of under /usr. In other words, /opt a filesystem, /usr/local a link, and be done with it. However, at least one person is sure to respond to this angrily in favor of the opposite. Such is life. -- Shawn McMahon | McMahon's Laws of Linux support: http://www.eiv.com | 1) There's more than one way to do it AIM: spmcmahonfedex, smcmahoneiv | 2) Somebody thinks your way is wrong
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