Man-DB cache directory change
This document represents a proposed Change that has been rejected or withdrawn as part of the Changes process. This page is preserved for historical record.
Summary
The man-db cache files are placed in/var/cache/man now. This seems incompatible with the ostree model, so this is a proposal to move it to /usr/lib/man/cache. This is also heavily requested for image-mode
Owner
- Name: Lukas Javorsky
- Email: ljavorsk@redhat.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora Linux 43
- Last updated: 2025-09-09
- Announced
- Discussion thread
- FESCo issue: #3462
- Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
- Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
Detailed Description
Currently, the man-db cache files are stored in /var/cache/man, which works fine in traditional setups. However, this location doesn't play well with the OSTree model, where /var is often treated differently or even shared across deployments. To make man-db more compatible with OSTree-based systems, this proposal suggests moving the cache files to /usr/lib/man/cache instead. That way, the cache can live alongside the rest of the read-only system content managed by the image, avoiding issues with /var. This change is also something that’s been heavily requested by people working with image-mode deployments, where managing everything within /usr is generally preferred.
Feedback
Benefit to Fedora
Image-Mode is requesting this so it can make use of it since the /var directory is restricted for other use.
Similar approach was done in the fontconfig package (described in this Fedora Change.
Scope
- Proposal owners: Rebuild the man-db package with the changes to the proposed cache directory.
- Other developers: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Release engineering: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Alignment with the Fedora Strategy: YES
Upgrade/compatibility impact
How To Test
The /usr/lib/man/cache should exist and be used for the man-db cache. The previously used /var/cache/man should not be used at all.
User Experience
N/A (not a System Wide Change)
Dependencies
N/A (not a System Wide Change)
Contingency Plan
Revert the changes to place the caches at /var/cache/man.
- Contingency mechanism: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change)
Documentation
N/A (not a System Wide Change)
N/A (not a System Wide Change)
Release Notes
The place of the man-db caches has been moved from /var/cache/man to /usr/lib/man/cache.
