Lew Pitcher
08-10-2005, 02:08 AM
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Angus Comber wrote:
> Hello
>
> My past is in Windows programming (come on, don't sneer!). Program settings
> were stored in the registry. What is the approach most commonly used on
> Linux? I suspect a text .conf file but would be interested in comments.
Systemwide configuration files are stored in /etc and named with a name
reflective of the application. Examples include /etc/mtools.conf for the
mcopy(1) command or /etc/profile for the bash shell.
Per-user configuration files are stored in the user's home directory,
and named with a name reflective of the application. In this case, the
name starts with a dot, so as to keep the user's directory listing
uncluttered. Examples include ~/.profile for the bash shell, and
~/.pinerc for the pine(1) email/news reader.
In both of the above cases, if more than one file is required, use a
directory instead of a file, and store your configuration files in the
directory. Examples include /etc/X11 for the configuration files for X11
and ~/.mozilla for the configuration files for your Mozilla-based web,
email, and news clients.
Some desktop managers add their own 'config' management to the mix, but
the rules for these config managers vary desktop manager to desktop
manager, and usually cover only the parts of initialization that the
desktop manager is interested in (window placement and size, userid used
to run the program with, etc.)
HTH
- --
Lew Pitcher, IT Specialist, Enterprise Data Systems
Enterprise Technology Solutions, TD Bank Financial Group
(Opinions expressed here are my own, not my employer's)
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Angus Comber wrote:
> Hello
>
> My past is in Windows programming (come on, don't sneer!). Program settings
> were stored in the registry. What is the approach most commonly used on
> Linux? I suspect a text .conf file but would be interested in comments.
Systemwide configuration files are stored in /etc and named with a name
reflective of the application. Examples include /etc/mtools.conf for the
mcopy(1) command or /etc/profile for the bash shell.
Per-user configuration files are stored in the user's home directory,
and named with a name reflective of the application. In this case, the
name starts with a dot, so as to keep the user's directory listing
uncluttered. Examples include ~/.profile for the bash shell, and
~/.pinerc for the pine(1) email/news reader.
In both of the above cases, if more than one file is required, use a
directory instead of a file, and store your configuration files in the
directory. Examples include /etc/X11 for the configuration files for X11
and ~/.mozilla for the configuration files for your Mozilla-based web,
email, and news clients.
Some desktop managers add their own 'config' management to the mix, but
the rules for these config managers vary desktop manager to desktop
manager, and usually cover only the parts of initialization that the
desktop manager is interested in (window placement and size, userid used
to run the program with, etc.)
HTH
- --
Lew Pitcher, IT Specialist, Enterprise Data Systems
Enterprise Technology Solutions, TD Bank Financial Group
(Opinions expressed here are my own, not my employer's)
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=ksTq
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