GNU binutils version 4.3.x [PSARC/2008/656 FastTrack timeout 10/30/2008]

[James Carlson]

Stefan Teleman writes:
> The other problem with having symlinks in /usr/bin is that we implicitly assert 
> a preference for one version of binutils, or GCC, over another.

That's not a problem, that's a benefit.

Those who want a particular version (and no other) can either
include/exclude specific packages to get to that state or grovel about
in /usr/gnu/gcc-mumble/frotz to get the desired bits.

Having a canonical version in /usr/bin is a *good* thing, as it makes
our system much more like others, where you don't have to putz around
with $PATH in order to get common packages to build.

>   the symlinks in /usr/bin point to the sole instance. This no longer holds when 
> there is more than one version of either component available: we are making an 
> implicit value judgement ("the latest version is the one we like best"). This 
> can create binary compatibility problems.

I think the alternative is far worse.

Those who don't care what version they get can look in /usr/bin, and
we'll give them the benefit of the freshest bits there.  Those who do
-- for whatever reason -- care can specify exactly what they want.

I don't see how it really could be otherwise.  It'd be just silly to
make /usr/bin be the oldest bits, and it'd be really confusing and
weird to make /usr/bin appear to have different contents for different
users.

> > In other words, /usr/bin/gar makes sense, as does /usr/gnu/bin/ar, but
> > /usr/gnu/bin/gar doesn't make sense.
> 
> I can then change the bits in /usr/gnu/bin to remove the 'g', with the exception 
> of gprof.

Bottom line: you're delivering something in /usr/gnu/bin and /usr/bin
that has the same name, then that's a mistake.  /usr/gnu/bin is
supposed to shadow /usr/bin, not contain a replica.

-- 
James Carlson, Solaris Networking              <james.d.carlson at sun.com>
Sun Microsystems / 35 Network Drive        71.232W   Vox +1 781 442 2084
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