> However, /etc/init.d just makes things really easy for the machine in
> some ways,

yup.


> fails to solve the ordering problem,

I don't understand.  by definition, the scripts supplied are in the
'right order', and if you're adding more you either:
	(1) add them in the region reserved to the user, or
	(2) know what you're doing, and install them elsewhere.


> and makes things
> really unpleasant for humans.

how is that?

I actually disagree with this for several reasons, and would say that
it makes it a bit _easier_.  in particular, you can tell things like
what order system services are starting up, just by 'ls'ing your rc*.d
directory.  that's one of the most common things i want to know about
rc.

it does assume that the "end user" will rarely want to modify existing
scripts, but i think that's true anyway.  how many people actually
modify their /etc/rc?

it also assumes that people who are adding scripts to /etc/rc know
enough sh to be able to add an extra test for 'start' at the beginning
of the script...


To my mind, there are two classes of people adding stuff to /etc/rc:

	(1) package management tools,
	(2) hackers.

hackers should be able to deal with the slight bit of inconvenience
imposed.  it's package management tools that i'm really most
interested in satisfying.


what else is wrong with it?


chris