/ - files needed at boot /etc - configuration files /lib - dynamically linked shared libraries (analogous to DLLs on Windows) /proc - a virtual directory corresponding to all processes running on the system /tmp - programs can write their temporary files here /usr - files needed after boot /usr/doc - docs for user apps, in many file formats /usr/include - header files for C compiler /usr/local or /opt - custom stuff that is not handled via the system's default software handling solution. Intended for local machine only. /usr/share - config files /usr/src - source code for the system's software, including Linux kernel /var - "variable data" - data that changes constantly when the system is running ~/local or ~/opt - install into home dir
If you are in a heterogenous environment with shared home between lots of architectures etc, /import/x86 etc is a good place
Author: Mark Carter Created: 22-Nov-2010 Updated: 23-Nov-2010