When referencing a command, how far in depth can the symbolic link be followed?

davidas · 04-12-2004, 05:14 AM

Code:

david:/# which vi       
/usr/bin/vi

david:/# ls -l /usr/bin/vi
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           20 Apr  3 11:49 /usr/bin/vi -> /etc/alternatives/vi

david:/# ls -l /etc/alternatives/vi
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           13 Apr 13 02:08 /etc/alternatives/vi -> /usr/bin/gvim

david:/# ls -l /usr/bin/gvim
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root            3 Apr 10 22:24 /usr/bin/gvim -> vim

In short, /usr/bin/vi ---> /etc/alternatives/vi ---> /usr/bin/gvim ---> /usr/bin/vim.

When I do a vi <filename>, vim is launched instead of gvim.
However, when I do a /usr/bin/gvim (which is linked to vim), gvim is launched. Is it cos there are too many symbolic links between /usr/bin/vi and /usr/bin/gvim?

Please enlighten me... this alternatives system is mind blowing

Thanks !

jschiwal · 04-12-2004, 05:26 AM

I don't have gvim installed on my computer. You didn't say how you launched gvim. From the console or KDE menu. A program may look at $0 to find you how it was called, and change it's behaviour appropriately. When launching a program graphically, there are parameters which may be included when launched.

davidas · 04-12-2004, 06:09 AM

From commandline,

/usr/bin/vi will launch vim.
/usr/bin/gvim will launch gwim.

However, as stated in my first post, /usr/bin/vi has been symbolically linked to /usr/bin/gvim ultimately via /usr/bin/vi ---> /etc/alternatives/vi ---> /usr/bin/gvim ---> /usr/bin/vim.

The manner which is used to call vim will determine if vim or vim -g (GUI version) will be launched. If gvim is used to call vim, then vim -g version (=gvim) will be launched.

Thanks

Quote:

Originally posted by jschiwal
I don't have gvim installed on my computer. You didn't say how you launched gvim. From the console or KDE menu. A program may look at $0 to find you how it was called, and change it's behaviour appropriately. When launching a program graphically, there are parameters which may be included when launched.