rcfile

jCVS embodies a UNIX programming tradition known as the 'rcfile'. Most UNIX applications would create a file in your home directory that contained any configuration information. The reason that it was called an 'rcfile' was that its name typically ended with 'rc'. For example, the mail program 'pine' uses the file '.pinerc', and procmail uses '.procmailrc'.

Dot Files

Dot files are files whose names start with a period, or 'dot'. Some operating systems, such as UNIX and Linux, allow filenames to begin with a dot, and their user interfaces recognize dot files as hidden files that are not displayed to the user, unless the user specifically requests they be displayed.

Other operating systems have other mechanisms for identifying hidden files; further, they use dot files to signify that the file has a special meaning or context. For instance, the original MacOS used dot files to identify drivers, and to this day does not allow file names to begin with a dot. On the other hand, Windows allows dot files, but then treats the entire file name as the file's extension, which does not accomodate the mechanism Windows uses to match files with an application.

Because of the above considerations, jCVS uses two different names for the preferences file, depending on what operating system you are running on. These are detailed below.

UNIX (slash) Systems

Operating systems that use the slash character, '/', as the path name separator character are assumed by jCVS to allow dot files, which includes UNIX systems and Linux.

On these systems, the rcfile will be named '.jcvsrc'.

All Other Systems

On all other systems, the rcfile will be named 'jcvsrc.txt'.