License file in multiple locations

Kalev Lember kalev at smartlink.ee
Thu Apr 16 14:04:58 UTC 2009


Hello,

I am trying to package a program that expects to find its license file
(COPYING) in /usr/share/%{name} to be able to show license text at
runtime. However, standard practice is to install this file to the %doc
directory in /usr/share/doc/%{name}-%{version}.

What would be a good way to solve this? Right now I can see 4 different
ways and each of it has its flaws:

1) Symlink the file from /usr/share/%{name} to the standard %doc
directory. This doesn't seem to be a good idea, because then runtime
would depend on the presence of %doc marked items.

2) Patch the program in spec file to search the license text in
/usr/share/doc/%{name}-%{version} instead. I wouldn't really like to
carry a Fedora-specific patch in the RPM though.

3) Not to mark COPYING as %doc at all, and only install it in
/usr/share/%{name}.

4) Install COPYING file in both directories, and only mark it as %doc in
/usr/share/doc/%{name}-%{version}.

The review request and spec file of the package in question is here:
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=powwow

-- 
Kalev




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