What is the correct directory to install my programs?

jdruin · 01-04-2009, 02:09 PM

I have a new laptop on which I am running Ubuntu 8.10. As I download software, where is the appropriate place to put the software? For example, I installed paros web proxy in

Code:

/home/ubuntu/programs/paros

My thinking was to create a windows like program files directory to keep my "local" user software away from the system software that runs as root.

I do not see any one else installing this low privilege software in their user accounts though. Without putting software in root privileged areas, where should I intall?

Mega Man X · 01-04-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdruin

I have a new laptop on which I am running Ubuntu 8.10. As I download software, where is the appropriate place to put the software? For example, I installed paros web proxy in

Code:

/home/ubuntu/programs/paros

My thinking was to create a windows like program files directory to keep my "local" user software away from the system software that runs as root.

I do not see any one else installing this low privilege software in their user accounts though. Without putting software in root privileged areas, where should I intall?

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing and it does not really matter where you put programs at your /home folder. Put where you think it fits the best. I keep a lot of games and applications on my /home. Usually, it is a good thing to leave programs outside your /home folder if you share your computer with other users.

repo · 01-04-2009, 03:17 PM

Also,

Keeping them in /home/ubuntu/programs/
makes it easy to backup.

jay73 · 01-04-2009, 05:58 PM

As a rule, I install that sort of stuff under /opt, which is the proper location according to the hierarchy standard. This is obviously a system folder but there is nothing wrong with creating a directory there and changing its permissions so that it is owned by the user.