/usr/local vs. /opt

[Les Mikesell]

On Fri, 2005-09-16 at 07:54, David Mackintosh wrote:
> > Given a choice in locations, where should I opt to install RPM packages, and 
> > where should non-RPM software go?
> 
> Wherever you think you'll find it later. :)
> 
> We've gone through several iterations here.  If the software is going
> to be used by multiple machines, I put it in /usr/local because my
> /usr/local tree is nfs-shared across my network.  (Yes, I'm grimly
> aware of a non-local 'local' directory.) If it is a major package
> that is likely to be superceded by a superior version in the future,
> it generally gets installed into /tools which is an autofs, and users
> get directed to manipulate their environments so that they can use
> the appropriate version.  If it is going to be run locally, or is
> important that it only run locally (because it keeps some kind of
> state that is important), then it gets installed in /opt.  
> 
> No matter what you chose, someone will always have an excellent
> reason why it should go somewhere else.

Exactly.  This is sort of like asking what private IP address
range you should use for a local network.  In that case the
answer is one that isn't used by a company you might merge
with...  Likewise for software you just need to use a space
that no one else will use.  Things that install from source
usually go under /usr/local by default with a configure
option to move elsewhere.  Packaged items that aren't part
of a standard distribution often go under /opt.

-- 
  Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com