Preferred compile location

dj666 · 09-17-2005, 09:06 PM

Being new to linux and slackware (and a bit of a control freak), I have some confusion regarding the best place to install locally compiled software to. I have read and experimented various locations, namely /usr/local (which seems to be the default for in most configure files), /home/<user> or /opt.

Is there a preference/best practice/preferred location for installing locally compiled software? Hopefully this won't start any sort some sort of war over which way is better.

dj666

ilikejam · 09-17-2005, 09:29 PM

Hi.

Have a look at the FSH standard, which everyone breaks in some way or another.
http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html

I'm a RedHat sort, so I don't use /opt for anything, and put all compiled software in /usr/local (which is generally the default in configure scripts anyway).

Dave

dj666 · 09-17-2005, 09:33 PM

Thanks for the reply. I have read the FSH standard, but it seems some people don't want to follow it and insist that there are better/preferred locations, with even variance across distros. Just seems confusing for a noob.

liquidtenmilion · 09-17-2005, 09:48 PM

/usr/local is where you should install apps you compile yourself.

/opt is for very large packages, like Openoffice or java(unfortunately not every distro follows this)

auditek747 · 09-17-2005, 11:03 PM

liquidtenmilion is correct.
If you compile without specifying an install dir, most everything will
go to /usr/local by default.
On Slackware, KDE is in /opt. If you compile KDE specific apps, they
will find their way.

Now to throw a wrench into the works!, On Slackware a few things must
be installed to /usr. A few that come to mind are:

pyorbit
pygtk
gnome-python

Good Luck!

P.S.

The afore mentioned bits of software must also be installed in the order given.
So if you need one of them... take them all.