Re: Risky VST linux plugin installation instructions

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I agree with most of this, so I have substantially updated the page in the
alpha manual (for Audacity 3.0.3).

The revised version is available here:
https://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Generator_and_Analyzer_plug-ins_on_Linux

Steve

On Fri, 18 Jun 2021 at 18:47, Calum McConnell <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Dear Audacity developers,
> The VST plugin installation instructions for Linux (as they currently
> exist at
>
> https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_and_analyzer_plug_ins_on_linux.html
> )
> aren't a good idea.  On many linux systems (at the very least, Debian,
> Ubuntu, and all other users of dpkg), the contents  of the folders
> /usr/lib and /usr/bin should not be modified by a human.  This is because
> the package manager is designed to have sole control over those folders.
> Now, there are enough safety checks that this probably won't lead to
> issues, but there are many management headaches that can result.
>
> The preferred location for VST plugins should be in the user's home
> directory: the ~/.vst directory is mentioned on the instructions, but is
> not given as the advised location.  This same dichotomy (where a home
> directory is available, but not the one given as a recommendation) is true
> for several other plugins.
>
> Second, /usr/local/lib/ should be the installation directory for system-
> wide plugins, not /usr/lib, even if it is a packaged version of Audacity
> that is installed.  This is once again because of the filesystem
> standards: any files that aren't managed by the package manager should be
> kept distinct from those that are controlled via package manager.  Now,
> this might not be a simple documentation fix: if packaged versions of
> Audacity don't check /usr/local/lib for plugins, then editing the wiki is
> obviously insufficient.  However, it should be improved in the code to
> allow that.
>
> Lastly, VST plugins DO NOT belong in /usr/bin.  /usr/bin is specifically
> for executable files, and vst plugins are formatted as libraries.  Given
> that alternatives exist, please don't recommend placing VST plugins in
> /usr/bin
> _______________________________________________
> audacity-devel mailing list
> [email protected]
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"fon=
t-size:small">I agree with most of this, so I have substantially updated th=
e page in the alpha manual (for Audacity 3.0.3).</div><div class=3D"gmail_d=
efault" style=3D"font-size:small"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" st=
yle=3D"font-size:small">The revised version is available here:</div><div cl=
ass=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small"><a href=3D"https://alphaman=
ual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Generator_and_Analyzer_plug-ins=
_on_Linux">https://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Gene=
rator_and_Analyzer_plug-ins_on_Linux</a></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" =
style=3D"font-size:small"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"f=
ont-size:small">Steve<br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div di=
r=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 18 Jun 2021 at 18:47, Calum McConnel=
l &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">calumlikesapplepie@gm=
ail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"=
margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-lef=
t:1ex">Dear Audacity developers,<br>
The VST plugin installation instructions for Linux (as they currently<br>
exist at<br>
<a href=3D"https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_=
and_analyzer_plug_ins_on_linux.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">h=
ttps://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_and_analyzer=
_plug_ins_on_linux.html</a>)<br>
aren&#39;t a good idea.=C2=A0 On many linux systems (at the very least, Deb=
ian,<br>
Ubuntu, and all other users of dpkg), the contents=C2=A0 of the folders<br>
/usr/lib and /usr/bin should not be modified by a human.=C2=A0 This is beca=
use<br>
the package manager is designed to have sole control over those folders. <b=
r>
Now, there are enough safety checks that this probably won&#39;t lead to<br=
>
issues, but there are many management headaches that can result.=C2=A0 <br>
<br>
The preferred location for VST plugins should be in the user&#39;s home<br>
directory: the ~/.vst directory is mentioned on the instructions, but is<br=
>
not given as the advised location.=C2=A0 This same dichotomy (where a home<=
br>
directory is available, but not the one given as a recommendation) is true<=
br>
for several other plugins.<br>
<br>
Second, /usr/local/lib/ should be the installation directory for system-<br=
>
wide plugins, not /usr/lib, even if it is a packaged version of Audacity<br=
>
that is installed.=C2=A0 This is once again because of the filesystem<br>
standards: any files that aren&#39;t managed by the package manager should =
be<br>
kept distinct from those that are controlled via package manager.=C2=A0 Now=
,<br>
this might not be a simple documentation fix: if packaged versions of<br>
Audacity don&#39;t check /usr/local/lib for plugins, then editing the wiki =
is<br>
obviously insufficient.=C2=A0 However, it should be improved in the code to=
<br>
allow that.<br>
<br>
Lastly, VST plugins DO NOT belong in /usr/bin.=C2=A0 /usr/bin is specifical=
ly<br>
for executable files, and vst plugins are formatted as libraries.=C2=A0 Giv=
en<br>
that alternatives exist, please don&#39;t recommend placing VST plugins in<=
br>
/usr/bin<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
audacity-devel mailing list<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">a=
[email protected]</a><br>
<a href=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel" rel=
=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listi=
nfo/audacity-devel</a><br>
</blockquote></div></div>

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_______________________________________________
audacity-devel mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel

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