Hi, Whenever I install autotools-aware programs from source, they don't go into /usr/local as is customary, but into their own directory called /opt/<package>/<version>, and then files in /opt/<package>/<version>/{{s,}bin,man} etc. get symlinked into their counterparts in /usr/local. I am using spill[1] for this. Thus, for gpp-2.24, which is a preprocessor like cpp(1) sporting modifiable syntax, the result is: /usr/local/bin/gpp -> /opt/gpp/2.24/bin/gpp* /usr/local/man/man1/gpp.1 -> /opt/gpp/2.24/man/man1/gpp.1 The advantage is easy to see: you can always see what package some file belongs to, and removing a package is as simple as removing matching links and the installation directory. All files belonging to a package are in one place. spill(8) automates package installation and management, but this can be done manually as well. Would going this route for arch-linux packages be seen as an improvement? [1] http://www.rpcurnow.force9.co.uk/spill/ clemens PS: I originally sent this to arch-dev-public@, but obviously I can subscribe to that list while not qualified to post.