(debian-policy.info)Alternative versions of an interface - update-alternatives from old Packaging Manual

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18 Alternative versions of an interface - ‘update-alternatives’ (from old Packaging Manual)
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When several packages all provide different versions of the same program
or file it is useful to have the system select a default, but to allow
the system administrator to change it and have their decisions
respected.

For example, there are several versions of the ‘vi’ editor, and there is
no reason to prevent all of them from being installed at once, each
under their own name (‘nvi’, ‘vim’ or whatever).  Nevertheless it is
desirable to have the name ‘vi’ refer to something, at least by default.

If all the packages involved cooperate, this can be done with
‘update-alternatives’.

Each package provides its own version under its own name, and calls
‘update-alternatives’ in its postinst to register its version (and again
in its prerm to deregister it).

See the update-alternatives(8) man page for details.

If ‘update-alternatives’ does not seem appropriate you may wish to
consider using diversions instead.