Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 12:02:47 -0800 From: Rich Morin <rdm@cfcl.com> To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Subject: documenting nonexistent files Message-ID: <p0500190eb64b03da6fe5@[192.168.168.205]> In-Reply-To: <20001129183258.A38444@canyon.nothing-going-on.org> References: <p0500191eb6485fe68c33@[192.168.168.205]> <20001129144252.A23325@canyon.nothing-going-on.org> <p05001907b64af5f12a68@[192.168.168.205]> <20001129183258.A38444@canyon.nothing-going-on.org>
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One of the interesting points that arose in the make.conf(5) PR
is the fact that /etc/make.conf (like many other files) doesn't
exist by default and therefore can't be found with ls, let alone
examined for comments.
In some cases, this could be resolved by creating placeholder
files that only have comments. Unfortunately:
* The placeholder file would need to be read by the FreeBSD
machinery, causing (a small amount of) wasted effort.
* Some nonexistent files (e.g., log files) cause things to
happen when they are created.
* Adding files would add clutter to system directories.
Nonetheless, it would be nice if there were an easy way to find
out about such files. Ideally, the man pages for the programs
that use them would mention them in their FILES sections and a
man page would exist for each one. Meanwhile, a simple list of
these files, with short descriptions, would be a useful help.
As I have my own (Meta-related) reasons for assembling such a
list, I am willing to collect information that anyone wants to
send me about this sort of file. At some point, I might even be
brave enough to create a man page! Meanwhile, I can put the list
up for web access or whatever...
-r
Here is a starting set of names, to give you the general idea:
File Client Note
==== ====== ====
/etc/
ccd.conf /etc/rc
daily.local /etc/periodic/daily/999.local (obs.)
exports /etc/rc.network
ipsec.local /etc/rc.network
mail/
sendmail.cf /etc/rc
make.conf /usr/share/mk/sys.mk
make.conf.local /usr/share/mk/sys.mk (error)
monthly.local /etc/periodic/monthly/999.local (obs.)
pccard.conf /etc/defaults/pccard.conf
ptmp /etc/rc (auto)
rc.conf.local /etc/defaults/rc.conf
rc.diskless1 /etc/rc
rc.local /etc/rc
start_if.* /etc/rc.network (auto)
sysctl.conf /etc/rc.sysctl
weekly.local /etc/periodic/weekly/999.local (obs.)
/var/
account/
acct /etc/rc (auto)
db/
mounttab /etc/rc.shutdown
run/
clean_var /etc/rc
rc.suspend_pid /etc/rc.suspend (auto)
--
--
Rich Morin: rdm@cfcl.com, +1 650-873-7841, http://www.cfcl.com/rdm
Prime Time Freeware: info@ptf.com, +1 408-433-9662, http://www.ptf.com
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MkLinux: http://www.mklinux.org, http://www.ptf.com/ptf/products/MKLP
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