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Accepted
Brian Bi
Asked: 2013-05-15 19:08:56 +0800 CST

Is there a standard place to install software that doesn't follow the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard?

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Let's say I'm building and installing some third-party software called foo. I want headers in /usr/local/include/foo, shareable read-only data in /usr/local/share/foo, and so on. But let's say foo insists on being difficult and wants me to pick a directory PREFIX and install stuff in ${PREFIX}/include and ${PREFIX}/share and so on. If I choose PREFIX=/usr/local then it might clobber some existing files in /usr/local/include, /usr/local/share, and so on. Are there best practices for where PREFIX should be?

linux

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    That is what /opt is for. Make a directory inside /opt for the self-contained software package. You'll have to add /opt/*/bin to your PATH manually.

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