Re: [PATCH] doc: Clarify need to update search paths on foreign distro (was Re: Feedback of the GNU Guix manual)

[Matt <matt@excalamus.com>]

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<br /> ---- On Tue, 07 May 2024 22:41:33 +0200  Vagrant Cascadian  wrote --- 
<br /> &gt; On 2024-05-07, matt@excalamus.com wrote:
<br /> &gt; &gt; #+begin_quote
<br /> &gt; &gt; 6.7 L37 true for Guix System as well?
<br /> &gt; &gt; The result of running ‘guix pull’ is a “profile” available under
<br /> &gt; &gt; ‘~/.config/guix/current’ containing the latest Guix. Thus, make sure to
<br /> &gt; &gt; add it to the beginning of your search path so that you use the latest
<br /> &gt; &gt; version, and similarly for the Info manual (*note Documentation::):
<br /> &gt; &gt;
<br /> &gt; &gt; export PATH="$HOME/.config/guix/current/bin:$PATH"
<br /> &gt; &gt; export INFOPATH="$HOME/.config/guix/current/share/info:$INFOPATH"
<br /> &gt; &gt; #+end_quote
<br /> &gt; &gt;
<br /> &gt; &gt; As far as I know, exporting like this is only necessary on foreign distros.
<br /> &gt; &gt;
<br /> &gt; &gt; The attached patch makes this explicit.  It also provides information
<br /> &gt; &gt; for people unfamiliar with the concept of a "search path" or how
<br /> &gt; &gt; shells work by suggesting the exports be added to .bashrc and tries to
<br /> &gt; &gt; clarify the consequences of not doing this.
<br /> &gt; 
<br /> &gt; If the foreign distro has /etc/profile.d/*guix.sh installed, as
<br /> &gt; implemented in the binary guix-install.sh script and also implemented in
<br /> &gt; the Debian packaging, manually adding this is also arguably not
<br /> &gt; necessary, unless they are using a shell that does not respect
<br /> &gt; /etc/profile.d ... which, to my knowledge, is no different from Guix
<br /> &gt; System really.
<br /> &gt; 
<br /> &gt; There is also the issue of logging out and back in again (or manually
<br /> &gt; adding the variables for one session), but that seems a little
<br /> &gt; tangential, and again, is no different for Guix System than on foreign
<br /> &gt; distros.
<br />
<br />Should we remove the advice to update search paths and instead explain (IIUC) how guix.sh is added to /etc/profile.d?  Basically, does the reader need to take some action or is there some information about the system that would be relevant for  the reader regarding its use or maintenance?</div>