Re: Risky VST linux plugin installation instructions

Calum McConnell <[email protected]> Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:37:27 -0400
Newsgroups gmane.comp.audio.audacity.devel
Message-ID <[email protected]>
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Thank you! The new version looks great! :)

On Tue, 2021-06-22 at 10:41 +0100, Steve Fiddle wrote:
> I agree with most of this, so I have substantially updated the page in
> the alpha manual (for Audacity 3.0.3).
>=20
> The revised version is available here:
> https://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Generator_and=
_Analyzer_plug-ins_on_Linux
>=20
> Steve
>=20
> 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_analy=
zer_plug_ins_on_linux.html
> > )
> > aren't a good idea.=C2=A0 On many linux systems (at the very least, Deb=
ian,
> > Ubuntu, and all other users of dpkg), the contents=C2=A0 of the folders
> > /usr/lib and /usr/bin should not be modified by a human.=C2=A0 This is
> > because
> > the package manager is designed to have sole control over those
> > folders.=20
> > Now, there are enough safety checks that this probably won't lead to
> > issues, but there are many management headaches that can result.=C2=A0=
=20
> >=20
> > 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.=C2=A0 This same dichotomy (where a h=
ome
> > directory is available, but not the one given as a recommendation) is
> > true
> > for several other plugins.
> >=20
> > 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.=C2=A0 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.=C2=A0
> > 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.=C2=A0 However, it should be improved in the cod=
e to
> > allow that.
> >=20
> > Lastly, VST plugins DO NOT belong in /usr/bin.=C2=A0 /usr/bin is
> > specifically
> > for executable files, and vst plugins are formatted as libraries.=C2=A0
> > 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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<html><head></head><body><div>Thank you! The new version looks great! :)</d=
iv><div><br></div><div>On Tue, 2021-06-22 at 10:41 +0100, Steve Fiddle wrot=
e:</div><blockquote type=3D"cite" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex; border-left:2=
px #729fcf solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div c=
lass=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">I agree with most of this,=
 so I have substantially updated the page in the alpha manual (for Audacity=
 3.0.3).</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small"><br></=
div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">The revised vers=
ion is available here:</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size=
:small"><a href=3D"https://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/Installing_Effe=
ct,_Generator_and_Analyzer_plug-ins_on_Linux">https://alphamanual.audacityt=
eam.org/man/Installing_Effect,_Generator_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"font-size:small">Steve<br></div></div><br=
><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 1=
8 Jun 2021 at 18:47, Calum McConnell &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:calumlikesapplep=
[email protected]">[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockqu=
ote type=3D"cite" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex; border-left:2px #729fcf solid=
;padding-left:1ex"><div>Dear Audacity developers,<br>The VST plugin install=
ation instructions for Linux (as they currently<br>exist at<br></div><div><=
a href=3D"https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_a=
nd_analyzer_plug_ins_on_linux.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tps://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_and_analyzer_=
plug_ins_on_linux.html</a>)<br>aren't a good idea.&nbsp; On many linux syst=
ems (at the very least, Debian,<br>Ubuntu, and all other users of dpkg), th=
e contents&nbsp; of the folders<br>/usr/lib and /usr/bin should not be modi=
fied by a human.&nbsp; This is because<br>the package manager is designed t=
o have sole control over those folders. <br>Now, there are enough safety ch=
ecks that this probably won't lead to<br>issues, but there are many managem=
ent headaches that can result.&nbsp; <br></div><div><br>The preferred locat=
ion for VST plugins should be in the user's home<br>directory: the ~/.vst d=
irectory is mentioned on the instructions, but is<br>not given as the advis=
ed location.&nbsp; This same dichotomy (where a home<br>directory is availa=
ble, but not the one given as a recommendation) is true<br>for several othe=
r plugins.<br></div><div><br>Second, /usr/local/lib/ should be the installa=
tion directory for system-<br>wide plugins, not /usr/lib, even if it is a p=
ackaged version of Audacity<br>that is installed.&nbsp; This is once again =
because of the filesystem<br>standards: any files that aren't managed by th=
e package manager should be<br>kept distinct from those that are controlled=
 via package manager.&nbsp; Now,<br>this might not be a simple documentatio=
n fix: if packaged versions of<br>Audacity don't check /usr/local/lib for p=
lugins, then editing the wiki is<br>obviously insufficient.&nbsp; However, =
it should be improved in the code to<br>allow that.<br></div><div><br>Lastl=
y, VST plugins DO NOT belong in /usr/bin.&nbsp; /usr/bin is specifically<br=
>for executable files, and vst plugins are formatted as libraries.&nbsp; Gi=
ven<br>that alternatives exist, please don't recommend placing VST plugins =
in<br>/usr/bin<br>_______________________________________________<br>audaci=
ty-devel mailing list<br></div><div><a href=3D"mailto:audacity-devel@lists.=
sourceforge.net" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>=
<br></div><div><a href=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/auda=
city-devel" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.sourceforge.=
net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel</a><br></div></blockquote></div></div><di=
v>_______________________________________________<br></div><div>audacity-de=
vel mailing list<br></div><div><a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
eforge.net">[email protected]</a><br></div><div><a href=
=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel">https://li=
sts.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/audacity-devel</a><br></div></blockquote=
><div><br></div><div><span></span></div></body></html>

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