create a link to x-sudo

gksu, gnome-sudo, and kdesudo are all packages that provide the same functionality: they provide a graphical interface to sudo that allows the user to gain root privileges. Which one depends on the default desktop environment, but from the standpoint of the program that needs root privileges, they are fungible. However, most GUI programs guess, hardcode, or depend upon a particular sudo GUI. Sometimes they get the answer wrong, which causes needless breakage and aggravation.

The various graphical interfaces to sudo should create a link to x-sudo in the /etc/alternatives directory. Then, other GUI programs can simply point to x-sudo instead of trying to [guess | parse | hardlink] which desktop environment happens to be in charge at the moment.

Such a solution would also help OEMs who want to give their customers a choice in desktop environments but also install various desktop-agnostic configuration scripts or programs. In particular, oem-config would be able to point to x-sudo irrespective of whether GNOME, KDE3, KDE4, XFCE, fluxbox, or a private label desktop environment is installed.

Happy Trails,

Loye Young
Isaac & Young Computer Company
Laredo, Texas
http://www.iycc.net