Re: [gentoo-dev] [PATCH] use.desc: add global USE flag 'split-sbin'

[William Hubbs <williamh@gentoo.org>]

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On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 07:17:09PM +0200, Ulrich Mueller wrote:
> >>>>> On Wed, 16 Oct 2019, William Hubbs wrote:
> 
> > Back in the day, the s in /sbin and /usr/sbin meant static, not super
> > user. All binaries in those directories were statically linked.
> 
> Where have you found that statement? The "s" stands for "system",
> not for "static". See for example [1].
> 
> Traditionally, these programs used to be in /etc (!), and were moved
> to /sbin later. For example, documentation of V7 Unix [2] says that
> "dangerous maintenance utilities" live in /etc (and doesn't mention
> /sbin at all).
> 
> Somewhat later, in 4.3BSD NET/2 these system binaries are in /sbin:
> "system programs and administration utilities fundamental to both
> single-user and multi-user environments" [3].
> 
> 
> [1] https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/ch03s16.html

> [2] https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=hier&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=Unix+Seventh+Edition&arch=default&format=html
> [3] https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=hier&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=4.3BSD+NET%2F2&arch=default&format=html

Please read the links I posted before --specifically the comments
from Rob.

Also, there is this.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3519952

Tl;dr the bin sbin separation is a historical separation that doesn't
make sense any longer.

William

> <



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