Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Base => TCB Q&A Forum => Topic started by: GNUser on November 28, 2020, 09:56:02 PM

Title: [Solved] why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: GNUser on November 28, 2020, 09:56:02 PM: I noticed that links to BB applets are scattered across /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /bin, and /sbin. Given TCL's anti-scatter philosophy, I was a bit surprised by this. I was expecting one directory or two at the most (e.g., links for busybox applets in /bin, links for busybox.suid applets in /sbin).

The question is motivated by curiosity, not criticism. I'm sure there is a practical or historical reason for this, which would be interesting to know.
Title: Re: why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: Rich on November 28, 2020, 10:05:52 PM: Hi GNUser
Just a guess, but maybe some programs had /usr/bin and /usr/sbin hard coded into them.
Title: Re: why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: andyj on November 28, 2020, 10:48:15 PM: Traditionally, /usr is a separate file system from /, so the programs in /bin and /sbin would be available even if no other disks were mounted. Putting everything from /usr/bin and /usr/sbin into /bin and /sbin would fill up the boot disk. This isn't really an issue anymore, but us old timers know it used to be.
Title: Re: why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: GNUser on November 28, 2020, 11:42:17 PM: Thank you, andyj. Very interesting. I suspected it was a historical reason. Relative newcomers to *nix such as myself (I've been a happy GNU/Linux user since 2012) have a hard time imagining such scenarios :o

Thread can be marked as Solved.

P.S. Would it add value to TCL to reduce the number of directories for binaries in base system? I realize the cost would be real (work to change it, possible side effects, loss of a historical feature) for only an aesthetic gain (decreased complexity of filesystem hierarchy).
Title: Re: why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: xor on November 29, 2020, 12:00:33 AM: (as usual I write with google translate :)

from different geographies, different countries,
and as people speaking different languages,
Even if we overlooked even the issues that each other opened
as if there is a common collective consciousness :)

Regarding the subject, please review the other topic I have opened.

? the hardcore of utopic minimalism ? how should a really minimalist linux be !?
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php?topic=24514.msg155482#msg155482

I will add a more technical criticism thesis report to the forum soon :)

Quote from: GNUser on November 28, 2020, 09:56:02 PM
Title: Re: [Solved] why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: curaga on November 29, 2020, 03:06:57 AM: Historically the binaries have always been there, so many scripts have hardcoded paths. This means any unification would still need symlinks for those dirs, kinda defeating the purpose.
Title: Re: [Solved] why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: GNUser on November 29, 2020, 07:40:08 AM: Unification with symlinks would be ugly, worse than current situation in a way. Oh, well. Thanks, guys!
Title: Re: [Solved] why are links to busybox applets scattered across four directories?
Post by: xor on November 29, 2020, 08:51:10 AM: I have a solution suggestion,
but I guess nobody takes me seriously!

Quote from: GNUser on November 29, 2020, 07:40:08 AM
Unification with symlinks would be ugly, worse than current situation in a way. Oh, well. Thanks, guys!