16

I mean not just the binary, but its libraries, config files and data (strictly speaking all files). Also when I download a package where is it best to extract it. If I move these files will the app be corrupted?

Improve this question
4
  • 7
    On non-mobile OSes, "app"s are called either programs or applications. I personally hate that word already..
    – Bora
    Commented May 16, 2011 at 20:19
  • 1
    That was a really good question btw, Tichomir.
    – Blomkvist
    Commented May 16, 2011 at 20:22
  • 3
    @Bora: "app" is just shortened form of "application", and was in use way before the smartphone craze.
    – grawity_u1686
    Commented May 16, 2011 at 22:05
  • 1
    @grawity: I'd like to see your source, primarily to deepen my hate in its history.
    – Bora
    Commented May 17, 2011 at 6:10

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
20

  • Most programs follow the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (man hier): libraries go to /usr/lib, configuration files to /etc, static data to /usr/share, and so on.

    Some self-contained programs put all data in /opt/<program>/.

  • .deb/.rpm packages are not supposed to be unpacked manually – they should be handled by the apropriate program, dpkg or rpm.

    If you have only the source code in a tarball, you must extract it to a temporary location (somewhere to /tmp or $HOME). The rest, including installation is usually handled by the Makefile (by running make install); see FHS above.

Improve this answer
8
  • 2
    Note that FHS version 3 is currently in progress, and the layout may change somewhat.
    – grawity_u1686
    Commented May 16, 2011 at 20:18
  • And indeed, once you have used the .deb or .rpm file, it is no longer needed. If I download a random .deb file, I usually download it to /tmp, or my home directory if I may need it again on a different box. When apt downloads a package, it is stored in /var/cache/apt from where it will eventually be cleaned out.
    – tripleee
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 3:52
  • I ran "whereis git" and got "/usr/bin/git". However, I cannot find the said directory. Most git files seem to be right there in "/usr/bin". I had installed git using "dnf install git-all."
    – Dhawal Patil
    Commented Jun 22 at 11:10
  • @DhawalPatil: It's not a directory.
    – grawity_u1686
    Commented Jun 22 at 11:44
  • 1
    @DhawalPatil: Git doesn't have a function to install packages. In general, though, if you're installing anything not through the OS package manager, then it's best to keep it confined to a separate directory (makes it easier to uninstall such things later) and avoid locations that the package manager might use (to avoid file conflicts). The usual suggestion is /usr/local, but if I'm installing something that involves a lot of files, then I might go with /usr/heimdal for Heimdal, /usr/samba for Samba, etc. – easier to remove the whole directory than pick out the pieces from /usr/local/foo.
    – grawity_u1686
    Commented Jun 26 at 12:13
3

The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard describes the directory layout used on Linux.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .