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Why Symbolic Link?
Authored by: d00d on Dec 16, '04 11:44:26AM

Hey Rob, why use a symbolic link? It's far easier to make an alias and when you define that alias, make sure they are run using sudo.



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Why Symbolic Link?
Authored by: extra88 on Dec 16, '04 12:30:57PM

Making a symlink in a default path location makes it more easily available for *all* accounts on the computer. Shell aliases benefit only the individual user.

I disagree that creating an alias being "far easier" than a symlink. If anything, creating the symlink is slightly easier.

The symlink is one command and one password (or no password if you've already used sudo recently) and you can use tab completion to reduce the amount of typing. To make an alias you have to navigate to the desired section of the config file then either type out the paths or use tab completion in the terminal then copy/paste. Once you've saved the change you still have to "source" the configuration file for the alias to take effect.



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