Hi all

Real here (as always!)

Just a general question, about Linux file structures. How do they work? I mean, I keep installing stuff to my Home dir, and its getting quite messy. Is the a dir I should be installing to, like /usr/local? What the difference between it all, usr/local/bin, /etc/...

I guess what I am saying is, how does it all work? Windows defaults it all for you. But how about Linux?

Also, if there is a set install dir (like C:/Program Files) then can I easily move the stuff I have now or will it mess it up?

Thanks

Hong

for an overview of the average file system, have a look at these articles

http://www.freeos.com/articles/3102/
http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/...ilesystem.html

programs will pick their own locations, normally /usr/ or /usr/local/ (and then bin/, lib/ etc...) but essentially you don't need to worry about it. the multiple locations exist for different conceptual or actual implementations, e.g. stuff in /usr/local/bin/something should be physcially local to the machine, while /usr/bin/something should be located on a centrally controlled network location. however if this is not relevant to you, breaking that conventino is not a concern really.

Thanks I will take a look into those links!!

Do echo $PATH to see where common apps get installed. For normal users /usr/local/bin or /usr/bin are good. For root only stuff go with the sbin. The only thing to put in the /home directory is config files (which will get made automatically) or apps that you only want one user using.

Thanks!!