Mastodawn

Dec 8, 2025

We have published a blog post about the completion of /usr-move transition in Debian.

It covers why it was needed after /usr-merge transition and the work done to resolve the issues during the #trixie release cycle.

#freexian #debian #usrmerge #usrmove

Debian's /usr-move transition has been completed

By now, the /usr-merge is an old transition. Effectively, it turns top-level directories such as /bin into symbolic links pointing below /usr. That way the entire operating system can be contained below the /usr hierarchy enabling e.g. image based update mechanisms. It was first supported in Debian 9, which is no longer in active use at this point (except for users of Freexian’s ELTS offer). When it became mandatory in Debian 12, it wasn’t really done though, because Debian’s package manager was not prepared to handle file system objects being referred to via two different paths.

Freexian

Mason Loring Bliss Nov 29, 2025

Every #UsrMerge discussion I read makes me grateful for the BSDs.

#freebsd #openbsd #netbsd

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JdeBP Nov 19, 2025

@fedops @rl_dane

I would not say *nobody*.

http://jdebp.info/FGA/unix-path-and-personalities.html

#UsrMerge #bin #sbin #lbin #PATH

FGA: The Unix PATH environment variable specified the operating system personality.

Frequently Given Answer explaining how the Unix PATH environment variable specified the operating system personality.

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JdeBP Nov 10, 2025

@cks

Interesting. What sorts of things are they? Do they duplicate anything in /sbin or /usr/bin? Were their manual pages retained as well? Does /etc/alternatives point to any of them?

#UsrMerge #Fedora #RPM

9to5Linux [Unofficial]Oct 1, 2025

Alpine Linux Is Moving to a /usr-merged File System Layout

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://9to5linux.com/alpine-linux-is-moving-to-a-usr-merged-file-system-layout

Natanael Copa Oct 1, 2025

Alpine Linux is moving to a /usr-merged filesystem layout.

https://alpinelinux.org/posts/2025-10-01-usr-merge.html

#AlpineLinux #usrmerge

Implementing /usr merge in Alpine | Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux

some kind of orange shape Apr 1, 2024

Repackaging #libpng12-0 for use on #Debian and #Ubuntu usrmerge versions https://jay.gooby.org/2022/08/10/repackaging-libpng12-0-for-use-on-debian-and-unbutu-usrmerge-versions

I used this to make #WeirdWorlds run on the latest #LinuxMint. You may have to purge the #usrmerge package before it'll let you install your custom libpng12.

#Linux

Repackaging libpng12-0 for use on Debian and Unbutu usrmerge versions

Since Ubuntu 19.04 and Debian 10 the usrmerge package has been installed by default. The package makes symlinks between /bin and /usr/bin, /sbin and /usr/sbin, /lib and /usr/lib and /lib64 and /usr/lib64 ensuring that any file appears in both places. There’s more detail on why this has been done at The Case for the /usr Merge and Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin, usr/sbin split.

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