link farm

link farm
 n.

   [Unix] A directory tree that contains many links to files in a master
   directory tree of files. Link farms save space when one is maintaining
   several nearly identical copies of the same source tree -- for
   example, when the only difference is architecture-dependent object
   files. "Let's freeze the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3 and
   FROBOZZ-4 link farms." Link farms may also be used to get around
   restrictions on the number of -I (include-file directory) arguments on
   older C preprocessors. However, they can also get completely out of
   hand, becoming the filesystem equivalent of {spaghetti code}. See also
   {farm}.
    

link farm

   <file system, Unix> A directory tree that contains mostly
   {symbolic links} to files in a master directory tree of files.
   Link farms save space when one is maintaining several nearly
   identical copies of the same source tree - for example, when
   the only difference is architecture-dependent object files.
   They also mean that changes to the master tree are instantly
   visible in the link farm.  Good {text editors} provide the
   option to replace a link with a new version of the target file
   when saving thus allowing the farm to have its own versions of
   just those files that differ from the master tree.

   E.g. "Let's freeze the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3
   and FROBOZZ-4 link farms."

   Link farms may also be used to get around restrictions on the
   number of "-I" (include-file directory) arguments on older C
   preprocessors.  However, they can also get completely out of
   hand, becoming the file system equivalent of {spaghetti code}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2001-02-08)