# Faking username to "install" for build system

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/faking-username-to-install-for-build-system/146389>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 20, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/faking-username-to-install-for-build-system/146389 "2008-08-20T15:31:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![quik77](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/dec6dc/32.png) [@quik77](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/quik77)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/faking-username-to-install-for-build-system/146389/1 "2008-08-20T15:31:23Z")

</div>

A few packages insist on installing itsell as name “root” instead of the  
more generic UID 0 during “make install” phase.

This very seldomly creates a few, neglectable, but still slightly  
troubling problems when someone chooses a non “root” name for the  
superuser, i.e.:

install: invalid user `root’

I think Alsa-lib is one of these.

Anyway, I could replace the Makefile (which I already do, so in fact  
there is no real “problem”), so this is the easy solution. But it is  
also a bit stupid and feels hackish to have a ruby script fix wrong  
Makefiles automatically, instead of being able to control the build  
system completely.

My question now is:

- Is there a way to supply the binary called “install” with a different  
user name? As in to completely control what gets passed between these  
binaries/processes.  
Optimally I would love to have a complete sandboxed “ruby-environment”  
with every process controllable no matter the buildsystem (scons, cmake,  
autoconfigure) used, and of course as much ruby as possible therein. (I  
still hope to completely avoid using any C but I am not sure this is  
possible, after all it reminds me more of a virtual build system and I  
still have a GUI on my todo list to completely control a compile/build  
situation, and resume from spot on when a user wishes to. Plus, a GUI  
with checkboxes for different choices etc… sometimes helps non-tech and  
tech people alike to control something in a straightforward fashion. )

I am very thankful for any help or pointers regarding this or related  
topics.