Posted by: Joseph Cooper
on April 28, 2006 01:49 AM
I think it has to do with the root directory software and libraries being at the really low base level (like the Kernel, the C libraries and the common utilities in<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/bin that are used for shell scripts) while userspace components are in<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/usr. Of course, one could argue that KDE is part of the operating system from the common user's perspective, but that's just semantics. Unixy thing.
It might have to do with netbooting. Historical thing. This is totally a guess, but think of a setup where you're operating system is booted and mounted off a server. But you have your own<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/usr/local directory, either mounted to your own hard drive or to your own filesystem space on the server, and you can install your "local" programs there, rather than installing them to your home directory.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/opt isn't used on all distributions. The last system I saw that used it was when I used Caldera OpenLinux 2.3.
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Re:/usr/local
Posted by: Joseph Cooper on April 28, 2006 01:49 AMIt might have to do with netbooting. Historical thing. This is totally a guess, but think of a setup where you're operating system is booted and mounted off a server. But you have your own<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/usr/local directory, either mounted to your own hard drive or to your own filesystem space on the server, and you can install your "local" programs there, rather than installing them to your home directory.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/opt isn't used on all distributions. The last system I saw that used it was when I used Caldera OpenLinux 2.3.
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