[arch-general] install packages using links?

[clemens fischer]

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.