Re: Risky VST linux plugin installation instructions

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On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 10:42 AM Steve Fiddle <[email protected]>
wrote:

> 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
>

@Calum McConnell:  as the instigator of this thread can you please review
Steve's changes in the Manual.

Peter.



> 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
>>
> _______________________________________________
> 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"><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">=
<div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 10:42 AM Stev=
e Fiddle &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">=
[email protected]</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-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div 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 style=3D"font-si=
ze:small"><br></div><div style=3D"font-size:small">The revised version is a=
vailable here:</div><div style=3D"font-size:small"><a href=3D"https://alpha=
manual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Generator_and_Analyzer_plug-=
ins_on_Linux" target=3D"_blank">https://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/In=
stalling_Effect,_Generator_and_Analyzer_plug-ins_on_Linux</a></div></div></=
div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>@Calum McConnell:=C2=A0 as the instiga=
tor of this thread can you please review Steve&#39;s changes in the Manual.=
</div><div><br></div><div>Peter.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><blockq=
uote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1p=
x solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr=
"><div style=3D"font-size:small"><br></div><div style=3D"font-size:small">S=
teve<br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 18 Jun 2021 at 18:47, Calum McConnell &lt;<a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">calumlikesapplep=
[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" styl=
e=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);paddin=
g-left: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>
_______________________________________________<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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