From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from mp2 ([2001:41d0:2:4a6f::]) (using TLSv1.3 with cipher TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 (256/256 bits)) by ms11 with LMTPS id RwiXG7ET6l6WKwAA0tVLHw (envelope-from ) for ; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:59:29 +0000 Received: from aspmx1.migadu.com ([2001:41d0:2:4a6f::]) (using TLSv1.3 with cipher TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 (256/256 bits)) by mp2 with LMTPS id KIYhF7ET6l7LegAAB5/wlQ (envelope-from ) for ; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:59:29 +0000 Received: from lists.gnu.org (lists.gnu.org [209.51.188.17]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by aspmx1.migadu.com (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 07D12940418 for ; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:59:28 +0000 (UTC) Received: from localhost ([::1]:46206 helo=lists1p.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXf4-0006M9-Ul for larch@yhetil.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:59:26 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::10]:36578) by lists.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_256_GCM_SHA384:256) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXQC-0003ZR-4r for guix-patches@gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:44:05 -0400 Received: from debbugs.gnu.org ([209.51.188.43]:39166) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_128_GCM_SHA256:128) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXQB-0004uU-9Y for guix-patches@gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:44:03 -0400 Received: from Debian-debbugs by debbugs.gnu.org with local (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXQB-0002o3-82 for guix-patches@gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:44:03 -0400 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: [bug#40950] Mcron originator: My opinion References: <20200428212852.19552-1-sirmacik@wioo.waw.pl> In-Reply-To: <20200428212852.19552-1-sirmacik@wioo.waw.pl> Resent-From: Dale Mellor Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: guix-patches@gnu.org Resent-Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:44:03 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 40950 X-GNU-PR-Package: guix-patches X-GNU-PR-Keywords: patch To: 40950@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 40950-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B40950.159239779510700 (code B ref 40950); Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:44:03 +0000 Received: (at 40950) by debbugs.gnu.org; 17 Jun 2020 12:43:15 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:50708 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXPP-0002mU-3R for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:43:15 -0400 Received: from rdmp.org ([52.19.174.175]:33388) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXPK-0002m0-NI for 40950@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:43:11 -0400 Received: from [127.0.0.1] (helo=localhost) by rdmp.org with esmtp (Exim 4.92) (envelope-from ) id 1jlXPE-0002M8-Eo for 40950@debbugs.gnu.org; Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:43:04 +0000 Message-ID: From: Dale Mellor Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:43:03 +0100 Organization: DM Bespoke Computer Solutions Ltd Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" User-Agent: Evolution 3.30.5-1.1 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Score: 1.9 (+) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list X-Spam-Score: 0.9 (/) X-Mailman-Approved-At: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:59:12 -0400 X-BeenThere: guix-patches@gnu.org List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: guix-patches-bounces+larch=yhetil.org@gnu.org Sender: "Guix-patches" X-Scanner: scn0 Authentication-Results: aspmx1.migadu.com; dkim=none; dmarc=none; spf=pass (aspmx1.migadu.com: domain of guix-patches-bounces@gnu.org designates 209.51.188.17 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=guix-patches-bounces@gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -1.01 X-TUID: duUqc4D2E5al Hello, for information I don't agree with having a central crond process running on the system. I put it in mcron only for compatibility with legacy crons, but think that it is *much* better for each service which needs one, and each user, to run their own private daemon and manage their own configuration. The reasons include: * reliability: one faulty client or scheme configuration clause is less likely to make the system unavailable to others; * security: UNIX users can only mess with their own configurations, and there is no need for any SUID programs; * safety: I think the mcron personality gets much more use in practice, hence is tested by many more people; * efficiency: using the legacy crontab directories means that the daemon has to wake up and scan all these files once per minute, even if the actions are only performed once per day or even once per month; * convenience: I think it is actually simpler all round to have separate configurations for each utility that needs cron service, rather than splicing and editing existing central system-wide files. Basically, all these things are the reasons I developed mcron in the first place. As an aside, I would love to be able to pull out all of the legacy compatibility stuff from the mcron code, as it would massively simplify my life! (Don't worry, it probably won't happen). Kind regards, Dale Mellor