Re: VARTEXFONTS

[Petr Cech <cech@atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz>]

On Fri, Nov 26, 1999 at 09:51:13AM +0900 , Atsuhito Kohda wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> In tetex-bin 1.0.6-1, texmf.cnf seems to set VARTEXFONTS
> as /var/tmp/texfonts but tetex-base 1.0-5 has /var/spool/texmf
> 
> This seems inconsistent.  The setting of texmf.cnf is intentional
> or mistake ?  

I think this is intentional. There are problems with /var/spool/texmf.
If someone creates bad font, it will be used till admin deletes the offending
file. Problems with regeneration of ls-lR and so on.

> And I feel that the value VARTEXFONTS changes frequently between 
> /var/tmp and /var/spool.  Is this due to Debian Policy or only due
> to original tetex changes ?

IMHO maintanter wanted to fix the usage of spool directory, but there were
always races. This discusin should be in the archives of -devel.

> I think the value of VARTEXFONTS should be much more stable
> othewise a user needs to wait a while when DVI drivers suddenly
> start to create (unnecessary) PK fonts from time to time.

I have VARTEXFONTS set to /var/spool/texmf, but it is my home machine
which is use almost only by me.

> If I misunderstand the situation please let me know.
> 
> Thanks in advance,		1999.11.26
> 
> --
>  Debian JP Developer - much more I18N of Debian
>  Atsuhito Kohda <kohda@pm.tokushima-u.ac.jp>
>  Department of Math., Tokushima Univ.

				Petr Čech
--
Debian GNU/Linux maintainer - www.debian.{org,cz}
           cech@atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz