On Sat, Oct 29, 2005 at 12:54:14AM +0200, Mark Rosenstand wrote:
> Hey guys :)
> 
> Would somebody mind explaining the purpose of the /opt prefixing in
> many Arch packages?
> 
> I'm just wondering as it's starting to get a bit unhandy as more and
> more software ships with optional bindings for languages, e.g. GNOME
> applications (/opt/gnome) shipping Python (/usr) and Mono (/opt/mono)
> bindings.

http://www.archlinux.org/docs/en/guide/install/arch-install-guide.html#guidelines

--snip--

Directories

Configuration files should be placed in the /etc directory. If there's
more than one configuration file, it's customary to use a subdirectory
in order to keep the /etc area as clean as possible. Use /etc/{pkgname}/
where {pkgname} is the name of your package (or a suitable alternative,
eg, apache uses /etc/httpd/).

Package files should follow these general directory guidelines:
/etc    System-essential configuration files
/usr/bin        Application binaries
/usr/sbin       System binaries
/usr/lib        Libraries
/usr/include    Header files
/usr/lib/{pkg}  Modules, plugins, etc.
/usr/man        Manpages
/usr/share/{pkg}        Application data
/etc/{pkg}      Configuration files for {pkg}
/opt    Large self-contained packages such as KDE, Mozilla, etc.

--snip--

I see you're argument in saying that these packages are in a way no
longer self contained because of these bindings to things that are in
other places, but I think the fact is that the bindings are just
extensions/interfaces of a large self-contained core, so the logic of
/opt still stands.

IIRC this is one of those issues that is brought up around here once
every month or so. Maybe someone should write an FAQ for these things?

-S

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