NVIDIA stuff (was: [gentoo-dev] Point of fact.)

[Arcady Genkin]

Tom Newsom <Jeepster@××××××.uk> writes:

> Whoever gets this, if your in #gentoo then you`ll know me by the nick
> Jeepster.

Looking for trouble, aren't you? ;^)

> It isnt a quirk, the paths that quake,UT etc look in for GL libs is a
> standard place, when nvidia decided a while ago to create linux drivers
> they decided on a standard place for thier libs to be, that being
> /usr/lib and also they *had* to alter some XFree libs and links.

Hard coding library paths[1] in an application is plain wrong.  The
problem lies with the programs that do that.

And who said that /usr/lib is the standard place?  What if I
maintained the GL libraries locally, and had them installed some place
under /usr/local?

NVIDIA took the easy way out.  Their Makefiles are horrible kludges,
if you ask my opinion.  I just hope that the person(s), who works on
the drivers' code is different from the one that works on the
installation subsystem. ;^)

Anyhow what NVIDIA does is it overwrites files in your installation,
without asking for your consent, giving you any choice, or even
backing them up.  Do you think that this is the right way to install
software?

Guess what happens:
1.  when you reinstall Xfree?
    [.oop-oop og sbil s'AIDIVN]
2.  if you choose to uninstall NVIDIA's packages?
    [.pu emoc ton dluow X yhw tuo gnirugif kcul dooG]

> Once you accept you`re nvidia portage files sent the libs to the wrong
> place then you will fix your "quirk"
>
> I can if you wish get a guy who started the nvidia drivers to come into
> #gentoo and tell you why you`re /opt/ place is wrong.

Oh-oh!  Not the guy who wrote the Makefiles, I hope!  Or else your
argument from authority is just not going to work.

Footnotes: 
[1]  Or any other paths, except for the ones to files of the package
     itself, for that matter.
-- 
Arcady Genkin
Don't read everything you believe.