From: zlsiial@uts.mcc.ac.uk (A. V. Le Blanc) Subject: Re: Linux File System Document Revision 1.0 Date: 10 Mar 1992 10:49:23 GMT
In article <1992Mar9.143345.23474@rock.concert.net> abc@banjo.concert.net (Alan B Clegg) writes:
>Root Directory:
>
> Files:
> {none defined by spec}
>
> Directories:
> bin dev etc home lib mnt usr
>
> Rationale:
> The root directory should not be cluttered with files or
> directories, and should contain no user programs.
>
>/home Directory:
>
> Files:
> NONE
>
> Directories:
> {one per user excepting root}
>
> Rationale:
> Standard location of users home directories. Will most likely
> be a mounted file system once the system is up. root's home
> directory should be /.
I was involved in the discussion which produced this document,
and I wish to bring up in this forum a topic which I discussed
there. In doing so, I do not wish to start a flame war, but I
know many people are extremely emotional about this question.
I am bringing up this subject again because I believe we came
to the wrong conclusion.
It seems to me inappropriate that root have / as its login directory.
If it does, than root's profile and various logfiles must be in that
directory. I am well aware that this is done in this way on many
systems, but I am also aware that it is done otherwise on many other
systems. It seems to me that the overriding considerations are
that the root directory must be clean, that root's login directory
must not be accidentally inacessible. But Linux already logs you
in in the directory '/' if your home directory is inaccessible.
Before the flames begin to sear, let me say that I think this is
a relatively small point, and that the rest of the document provides
for a clean, intelligible system which should not be too alien to
any experienced Unix user, and yet which should be easily grasped
by Unix novices.
-- A. V. Le Blanc
University of Manchester
LeBlanc@mcc.ac.uk