Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 00:18:02 +0000 From: "Nathan Arun" <nathan_arun@hotmail.com> To: arch@freebsd.org Subject: a suggestion Message-ID: <F88HOzyfyz5b6KZmcK80000ce69@hotmail.com>
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Hello FreeBSD developers,
I sent an e-mail to freebsd core team. Mr. Warner Losh suggested I should
sent that e-mail to this arch list.
So here it is.
thanks
Nathan
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To FreeBSD Core Team:
Hi Everyone,
I'm a software engineer whose experience is primarily on Windows though I
have used UNIX a little bit. Recently I tried to install FreeBSD 4.4 in one
of the old P133 boxes I had. Installation was not difficult. I was able to
get it running. Though I have to say, UNIX is intimidating to windows users.
My intention is to set up a site with php and mysql.
May I dare suggest a cosmetic change to FreeBSD? Please set aside your
contempt for a windows programmer and objectively assess my e-mail.
Section 3.3 of the handbook outlines the directory structure. How about
changing the structure to something akin to windows? Say
/sys --> all system binaries, scripts that now reside in /bin,
/sbin, /usr/bin,/usr/sbin, /boot, /etc, including
KERNEL, gcc, ... will reside here.
In addition /sys will have the following sub-directories:
/sys/mnt --> mount point (if necessary)
/sys/conf --> conf file location for binaries in /sys
/sys/dev --> all device nodes
/sys/log --> log file location for binaries in /sys
/sys/src --> source code for the binaries in /sys
/sys/include, /sys/lib --> C/C++ sdk
/sys/man --> man pages for binaries in /sys
/apps --> all applications. for e.g. /apps can have
/apps/apache --> application binaries
/apps/apache/log
/apps/apache/conf
/apps/apache/src
/apps/apache/man
/apps/samba --> application binaries
/apps/samba/log
/apps/samba/conf
/apps/samba/src
/apps/samba/man
/apps/X11R6
/apps/src --> source code of all the ports (6000+).
/usr --> all user directories. for e.g. /usr can have
/usr/root
/usr/root/.cshrc
/usr/sysadmin
/usr/postgresql
/usr/johndoe
Other miscellaneous files that are currently under /usr/local, /usr/share,
/var can be moved under one of the above.
So there will be only 4 file systems: /, /sys, /apps, /usr.
What I have suggested is an exact copy of Windows' "Winnt", "Program Files"
and "Documents and Settings" directories. But what's wrong in being easy and
clear? This structure is more logical.
I'm suggesting this because it is confusing to have so many bin & sbin
directories. This may sound trivial to experienced UNIX users like you, but
if you want to grow your user base, you should target the OS at more naive
developers like me. Many developers feel that windows is easy
and want to try something more challenging, but UNIX is too difficult.
These difficulties in turn become a "SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO ADOPTION".
UNIX community steadfastly refused to improve usability on the desktop and
Microsoft laughed it's way to the bank. I'm afraid the same thing is going
to happen on the server side as well.
My good luck to you in all your efforts.
Thank you for reading this far. Hope I have'nt offended anyone.
Nathan Arun
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