Re: [HACKERS] make install fails in perl5 ...

> I understand that, and I *don't* run it as root, I only install it
> as root.  After it's installed I chown it to postgres which is what
> many other packages do.  I also do everything from /usr/local/src/
> instead of /usr/src.  IMO, /usr/src is no place for users to be
> putting or building files. It's also alot easier to back up the local
> tree and be done with it.  But these are just my preferences.  If
> someone else wants to build it in / that's their business.

Sorry about that. I agree with you completely (I may even agree with you
more than you do! :)

I do a _lot_ of postgres building, since developing the server is one of
my hobbies. istm it is much cleaner to do everything out of
/opt/postgres, owned by postgres (as opposed to scattering things below
/, which as you point out can be a mess). I put the builds into
directories like v6.3.2 or 981014.d, then point to one with a softlink
/opt/postgres/current. Then nothing needs to happen as root for months
on end, and I can switch between versions in a minute or two if
necessary.

I'm not sure what the current thinking is on the /opt concept wrt the
newer file system conventions being negotiated between Unices...
                   - Tom