Why symlink everything in /usr but not the opposite?

SDD701 · n00b Joined: 18 Feb 2023 Posts: 23

Hi. Why /bin is a symlink to /usr/bin but not opposite way?

1. Would that work for single user mode?
2. I've read somewhere (maybe fhs) that /usr purpose to be mounted secondary. Why not make /usr/lib -> /lib? If /usr fails to mount I would have bash or cd binary at least in bin
3. I've been told on IRC that new standard is everything on /usr. Is it documented somewhere or just a practical trend?

Thank you for your time

John R. Graham · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 3:47 pm Post subject:

For background, go read The Case for the /usr Merge, and maybe some of the linked articles. There's some controversy, but then again when isn't there? Thereafter, if you still have questions, feel free to ask.

- John
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SDD701 · n00b Joined: 18 Feb 2023 Posts: 23

I've read the article with the linked pages and got it now, but still one thought remaining.

Why not link /usr/local/bin and others to /usr too? Seems like it exist only because of size restrictions of first UNIXes like with / /usr split

Hu · Administrator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 23037

/usr/local is for local administrators to install things. If /usr/local/bin -> /usr/bin existed, how would administrators install local software without colliding with the package manager?

SDD701 · n00b Joined: 18 Feb 2023 Posts: 23

Hu · Administrator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 23037

At least on Gentoo, /opt is often used by the package manager for prebuilt binaries from upstream, such as rust-bin, firefox-bin, etc.