From 1ddee42472ecdad3d2dbbc2482aab5e3add3abdd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Ludovic Courtès Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 14:47:31 +0100 Subject: doc: Add note on store immutability. * doc/guix.texi (The Store): Mention "store items" and the database location. Add note on the store's immutability. --- doc/guix.texi | 26 ++++++++++++++++++++------ 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) (limited to 'doc') diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi index 7945415d7a..06b40fac59 100644 --- a/doc/guix.texi +++ b/doc/guix.texi @@ -2878,20 +2878,34 @@ with @code{build-expression->derivation} (@pxref{Derivations, @section The Store @cindex store +@cindex store items @cindex store paths Conceptually, the @dfn{store} is the place where derivations that have been built successfully are stored---by default, @file{/gnu/store}. -Sub-directories in the store are referred to as @dfn{store paths}. The -store has an associated database that contains information such as the -store paths referred to by each store path, and the list of @emph{valid} -store paths---paths that result from a successful build. - -The store is always accessed by the daemon on behalf of its clients +Sub-directories in the store are referred to as @dfn{store items} or +sometimes @dfn{store paths}. The store has an associated database that +contains information such as the store paths referred to by each store +path, and the list of @emph{valid} store items---results of successful +builds. This database resides in @file{/var/guix/db} (or under whatever +state directory was specified @i{via} @option{--localstatedir} at +configure time). + +The store is @emph{always} accessed by the daemon on behalf of its clients (@pxref{Invoking guix-daemon}). To manipulate the store, clients connect to the daemon over a Unix-domain socket, send requests to it, and read the result---these are remote procedure calls, or RPCs. +@quotation Note +Users must @emph{never} modify files under @file{/gnu/store} directly. +This would lead to inconsistencies and break the immutability +assumptions of Guix's functional model (@pxref{Introduction}). + +@xref{Invoking guix gc, @command{guix gc --verify}}, for information on +how to check the integrity of the store and attempt recovery from +accidental modifications. +@end quotation + The @code{(guix store)} module provides procedures to connect to the daemon, and to perform RPCs. These are described below. -- cgit v1.2.3