Package: debian-policy 9.1.2 recommends the following to create a directory under /usr/local:
``` if [ ! -e /usr/local/share/emacs ]; then if mkdir /usr/local/share/emacs 2>/dev/null; then if test -e /etc/staff-group-for-usr-local ; then if chown root:staff /usr/local/share/emacs; then chmod 2775 /usr/local/share/emacs || true fi elif chown root:root /usr/local/share/emacs; then chmod 0755 /usr/local/share/emacs || true fi fi fi ``` That is way too complicated and has race conditions (yes, I know staff is practically almost root). I suggest to have packages just create the directory with ``` mkdir -p /usr/local/share/emacs || true ``` If people want to have /usr/local writable by different users than root, they should use POSIX ACLs or similar means. This would also set correct permissions for directories that aren't created as above, but by, for example, a call to `make install`. The `/etc/staff-group-for-usr-local` flag file could also go away then. Ansgar