Re: [privoxy-users] [ ijbswa-Support Requests-1890874 ] Why has Privoxy's install location changed on Mac OS X?

[Scott <Corpsecorps@Open-Jugular.com>]

I recently installed 3.0.8 after very carefully reading the installer  
"ReadMe", yet once it had finished installing... NOTHING.  I didn't  
see anything anywhere, including where the ReadMe said to look.  I  
know a little about Unix and the Terminal, so i poked around, read the  
Man page, etc., but even after looking up some things in the online  
manual, i couldn't do anything.

It was referring to windows, and files, and clicking things, and i  
couldn't even find the darn thing with SpotLight.  I finally found all  
the bits and bobs with Pathfinder and tossed them all in the trash.

I haven't used Privoxy since 3.0.3 and abandoned it largely because it  
was so frustrating to use.  Gave it a while to develop while getting  
by with style sheets and ad-block add-ons for different browsers.  All  
were inadequate or too troublesome.  I still want Privoxy's  
functionality, but this experience and what i've read about the new  
version, it's location and operation don't bode well.  I like to do a  
lot of tweaking, but i don't want to have to get out the Terminal and  
hunt through various unseen directories.  I'm not typically a command  
line sort of user.  I detested DOS.

I assume Privoxy works *something* like the old version, but before i  
install it again, i've got to at the very least have some  
comprehensible documentation, and somewhere to start.  8^(

Scott

On Feb 20, 2008, at 04•26¤, SourceForge.net wrote:

> Support Requests item #1890874, was opened at 2008-02-11 02:28
> Message generated for change (Comment added) made by olivier_p
> You can respond by visiting:
> https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=1890874&group_id=11118
>
> Please note that this message will contain a full copy of the  
> comment thread,
> including the initial issue submission, for this request,
> not just the latest update.
> Category: other
> Group: None
> Status: Open
> Priority: 5
> Private: No
> Submitted By: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
> Assigned to: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
> Summary: Why has Privoxy's install location changed on Mac OS X?
>
> Initial Comment:
> Hey, Privoxy people:
>
> I'm running Mac OS X, and until recently I have been using Privoxy  
> 3.0.6. Today, I installed Privoxy 3.0.8 and noticed that the install  
> location has been changed from /Library/Privoxy to /usr/local/etc/ 
> privoxy. The manual still says that Privoxy installs itself to / 
> Library/Privoxy on OS X, and I can't find documentation of this  
> change anywhere. /Library is a much more natural place for something  
> to reside on the Mac, so I'm curious why the change was made.
>
> Also, I am wondering what the Privoxy Utility is all about. There  
> doesn't seem to be any documentation on this either.
>
> Thanks, and keep up the great work on Privoxy!
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Olivier Pellerin (olivier_p)
> Date: 2008-02-20 23:26
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1708867
> Originator: NO
>
> Hello and thank you for this great utility !
>
> About the new place of privoxy, I hope this will help :
> - the normal user of a Mac doesn't care where the config files live.  
> What
> he wants is an easy way to turn privoxy on/off. If... if he  
> remembers he
> uses privoxy and that privoxy can disturb the way his bank (for  
> instance)
> open windows in his navigator. For him, the Privoxy Utility is  
> crude, but
> sufficient.
> - the power user, most probably, already uses privoxy. He has already
> played with it, edited the "user.action" file, installed shortcuts  
> like
> <http://config.privoxy.org/toggle?mini=y&set=toggle> to
> activate/desactivate privoxy, tried to create a white list,  
> translated the
> templates in his language, etc. He will look where the privoxy folder
> lives, will become frustrated and will come here to ask or find it  
> in the
> <http://config.privoxy.org/show-status> window. Worse: for him, life  
> has
> become complicated because all the config files need to be sudoed to  
> be
> edited. The Privoxy Utility is certainly not enough.
> - the unix master just types [find / -name privoxy -type f] in a  
> terminal
> window, and I can't even guess what his troubles are.
>
> For the Ordinary Mac User and the Power User, a Preferences Pane is  
> a very
> good idea. It should include :
> - a big on/off button
> - a way to choose between the "Caution", "Medium" and "Advanced"  
> settings
> of the "default.action" file
> - a button to turn on/off the "enable-edit-actions"
> - a link to the web-based actions file editor
> - a link to the documentation (for the power users)
>
> Hope this helps. Sorry not to offer my help for making this utility,  
> but
> this is really far beyond my capacities.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: mark miller (markm68k)
> Date: 2008-02-13 02:06
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1998998
> Originator: NO
>
> hal,
>
> package installers do have a README file that is displayed when the
> software is installed, but generally, people quickly click "Next"  
> and do
> not read them.  i would like to have a disk image that contains the  
> README
> file (specifically for mac os x) and the package installer (which  
> will also
> display the README file).  this will hopefully reduce the number of
> confused users.
>
> i apologize for pushing this release a little faster out the door  
> than it
> should have been.  of course, some would say that apple pushed  
> leopard out
> the door too soon, as well.  ;-)
>
> in any event, i will forward you an updated version of the privoxy web
> site docs very soon.
>
> let me know if you have any questions or comments.
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Hal Burgiss (hal9)
> Date: 2008-02-12 23:46
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=322640
> Originator: NO
>
> Mark,
>
> When the dust settles on all this, we do still need to decide how to
> handle the documentation.
>
> We should have the posted package labeled so people know there has  
> been a
> repackaging. Something like "3.0.8-2", with a release note as to
> what/why/where/when stuff. Then, is the User Manual being packaged  
> in Mac
> OS X packaging? Or do we just have to worry about the Privoxy web  
> site,
> docs?
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: hephaestus2 (hephaestus2)
> Date: 2008-02-12 16:33
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1289723
> Originator: NO
>
> Hi,
>
> Just a note regarding the documentation on the upgrade...
>
> At the following page, it still refers to the original location
> (/Library/Privoxy)
>
> http://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/startup.html
>
> Hopefully this isn't just cached somewhere on my system.
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>
> p.s. Thanks for delivering this update (and to those who built it).
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Steven (smkolins)
> Date: 2008-02-12 12:01
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1439894
> Originator: NO
>
> I also support the idea of a dmg distribution and of a prefpane -  
> you can
> make it optionally admin-accessible so that only an admin can change  
> it.
> I'm still trying to re-adapt to having privoxy in a new place (I  
> recognize
> the standardization but I have to constantly change prixoy sttings  
> and have
> had to put my own controls to keep up with the changes.) If we can  
> get to a
> new way to edit things that might address some of my needs (I have
> different proxy settings I have to allow for at work and at home.)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Hal Burgiss (hal9)
> Date: 2008-02-12 00:05
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=322640
> Originator: NO
>
> Location of files is pretty much platform specific. So that is up to
> David, Mark and whoever wants to speak up or contribute. If there is  
> such a
> thing as a standard place, then that's where it should go.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
> Date: 2008-02-12 00:05
>
> Message:
> Logged In: NO
>
> i have been working on the Privoxy Utility today and it is already  
> loading
> the following files: config, user.action, user.filter.
>
> the idea of creating a Preference Panel never occurred to me.  that  
> is a
> good idea.
>
> like all system logs files, the privoxy log file should exist in the
> /var/log folder and can easily be viewed with Apple's "Console"
> application.
>
> i will start the process of converting the Privoxy Utility into a
> Preference Panel.
>
> great suggestion!
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
> Date: 2008-02-11 23:53
>
> Message:
> Logged In: NO
>
> Just to clarify, I'm not against the new defaults; I just find the
> configuration to be very un-Mac-like.
>
> The disk image release sounds like a good idea. I don't know how  
> much time
> Mark or other Mac developers have to work on Privoxy, but it would  
> be nice
> if the Privoxy Utility were a prefpane. GeekTool, Growl, MySQL, Time
> Machine, and other background processes put their on-off switches  
> and basic
> configuration options in System Preferences, so this is probably the  
> best
> place to put Privoxy in order to stay consistent with the rest of  
> the Mac
> UI. A checkbox for enable-edit-actions with some text describing the
> feature would probably be very useful in helping new users to  
> Privoxy on
> the Mac get everything set up to their liking without having to search
> around for and edit the configuration files directly.
>
> Finally, would it be possible to put the config and log files under
> /Library? I'm not familiar with the developer guidelines referred to  
> below,
> but this seems like a more accessible place to put these files.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: mark miller (markm68k)
> Date: 2008-02-11 18:41
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1998998
> Originator: NO
>
> hal, i am going to proceed with a disk image release later this  
> week.  it
> is a standard way of distributing software and provides more  
> features than
> just a package installer.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Hal Burgiss (hal9)
> Date: 2008-02-11 18:08
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=322640
> Originator: NO
>
> Mark, I wish I could say I knew something about Mac OS X packaging,  
> but
> no. So I think you just have to rely on what you think is the most  
> standard
> way of installing packages on that platform and will work as  
> effortlessly
> as possbile for the most effected people. How something is packaged,  
> is
> largely a platform specific issue.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: mark miller (markm68k)
> Date: 2008-02-11 15:44
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1998998
> Originator: NO
>
> hal, i will definitely not be changing any of the default privoxy  
> config
> options or actions when building the package installers.
>
> i am rethinking the method of distributing the mac os x releases.  i  
> think
> it should be a disk image with a package installer, the privoxy  
> utility and
> a readme file.  that way everyone gets everything in one simple  
> download.
>
> what do you think?
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Hal Burgiss (hal9)
> Date: 2008-02-11 11:41
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=322640
> Originator: NO
>
> Mark, the config file options are set for all Privoxy packages prior  
> to a
> release. This change, as well as several others, were discussed way  
> back
> when. The new defaults reflect security concerns raised and agreed  
> to by
> project members at that time. The configuration changes are well  
> covered in
> the User Manual, and easy to find in the "Whats New" section, and  
> probably
> also the "Notes to Upgraders".
>
> We need to keep all official releases identical as far as source code
> *and* configuration. If nothing else, this helps with support issues  
> so we
> know if something is askew, we can ask questions like "is this a  
> default
> 3.0.8 install" and ferret out config related issues from real bugs?
>
> If you want to add anything "extra" to a package, add a text document
> pointing to the proper documentation, or clarifying some platform  
> specific
> issue. Ideally, of course, this stuff should go into the project wide
> documentation (User Manual, Devel Manual and FAQ), prior to release  
> so it
> gets distributed to all the right places. We probably need to be  
> careful of
> changing anything after an official release, and how we label it,  
> since
> 3.0.8. cvs code is already closed as we are post 3.0.8 and pre-3.0.9  
> at
> this point. Such releases should be labeled like "3.0.8-2", which a  
> release
> note attached that states there is supplemental README's to clarify
> packaging/installation issues, or whatever the reason for the "-2"  
> release
> is (which still needs to be based on the 3.0.8 tarball code).
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: mark miller (markm68k)
> Date: 2008-02-11 04:42
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1998998
> Originator: NO
>
> this is indeed a conundrum.  from what i can tell, the default value  
> for
> the "enable-edit-actions" option in the config file was disabled  
> starting
> with the 3.0.7 release.  the notes are as follows:
>
>
> #  4.5. enable-edit-actions
> #
> #  Specifies:
> #
> #      Whether or not the web-based actions file editor may be used
> #
> #  Type of value:
> #
> #      0 or 1
> #
> #  Default value:
> #
> #      0
> #
> #  Effect if unset:
> #
> #      The web-based actions file editor is disabled.
> #
> #  Notes:
> #
> #      This option is not recommended for environments with untrusted
> #      users and as a lot of Privoxy users don't read documentation,
> #      this feature is disabled by default.
> #
> #      Note that malicious client side code (e.g Java) is also capable
> #      of using the actions editor and you shouldn't enable this
> #      options unless you understand the consequences and are sure
> #      your browser is configured correctly.
> #
> enable-edit-actions 0
>
>
> i can update the "Privoxy Utility" to enable this feature, but it  
> should
> definitely warn the user.
>
> what do you think?
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
> Date: 2008-02-11 03:58
>
> Message:
> Logged In: NO
>
> Okay, thanks.
>
> I suppose Apple knows what's best :) but sticking the config files  
> in a
> hidden directory with enable-edit-actions off by default seems a bit
> counter-intuitive, especially if a novice Mac user wants to set up  
> their
> Privoxy configuration. Hopefully the Privoxy Utility gains some sort  
> of
> config editing functionality in the future.
>
> Anyway, hopefully you guys can add something in the upgrade section  
> of the
> documentation to remind people to move their configuration files to  
> the new
> location and remove the old installation so they don't go wondering  
> where
> everything went like I did.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comment By: mark miller (markm68k)
> Date: 2008-02-11 03:14
>
> Message:
> Logged In: YES
> user_id=1998998
> Originator: NO
>
> the updates to the documentation are completed, but late in being
> published.  i apologize for the confusion.
>
> the decision to move privoxy to the new location was to adhere to  
> standard
> apple developer design recommendations.
>
> finally, the "Privoxy Utility" is a mac os x application that controls
> privoxy (e.g. starting and stopping the service as well as  
> uninstalling the
> software.
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> You can respond by visiting:
> https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=1890874&group_id=11118
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