[MacPorts] #36323: Macports should be multiuser friendly

[MacPorts]

#36323: Macports should be multiuser friendly
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  Reporter:  ralph@…      |      Owner:  macports-tickets@…
      Type:  enhancement  |     Status:  new
  Priority:  Normal       |  Milestone:
 Component:  base         |    Version:  2.1.2
Resolution:               |   Keywords:
      Port:               |
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Comment (by cal@…):

 Why don't you globally append `/opt/local/bin` to `$PATH` for all users?
 Surely you do have a mechanism to roll out configuration changes for all
 users? You could just add the file in `/etc/paths.d/` yourself.

 Notes for ports can be shown by users using `port notes portname`, but I
 agree that often isn't helpful for users. The dbus port is a good example
 for that, since it requires users to load a launchd plist (one as root,
 one as user). I don't think MacPorts should attempt to add dbus to all
 users' configuration files — modifying a user's configuration should be
 left to the user.

 On (2) and (3), MacPorts currently does not provide a way to run commands
 at a user level. I agree this could be useful in some cases (like running
 kbuildsycoca for KDE apps or loading dbus), but doing this automatically
 might be surprising and unwanted. To go with the principle of least
 surprise, maybe MacPorts could offer a command to be run as user that will
 display what will be changed and ask the user whether he agrees to do
 this. E.g.:

 {{{
 $> port user-configuration
 There are 2 configuration changes you need to apply in order to run new
 software:
  1. dbus: load dbus user daemon
  2. kde-pimlibs4: update the system configuration cache
 What do you want to do? ([Q]uit / [A]ll) A
 1. The dbus port wants to: "load dbus user daemon"
   > launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-
 session.plist
   Allow? [y/N/never] y
   Success.
 2. The kde-pimlibs4 port wants to: "update the system configuration cache"
   > kbildsycoca4
   Allow? [y/N/never] never
   MacPorts will not ask again about this configuration update.
 No other configuration changes needed. Goodbye.
 $> port user-configuration
 No configuration changes needed.
 $>
 }}}

 You could then add the command to a user's shell startup files and they'll
 get prompted to run the update whenever there's changes available.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.macports.org/ticket/36323#comment:3>
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