link farm
 n.

    [Unix] A directory tree that contains many links to files in a master
    directory tree of files. Link farms save space when one is maintaining
    several nearly identical copies of the same source tree ? for example, when
    the only difference is architecture-dependent object files. ?Let's freeze
    the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3 and FROBOZZ-4 link farms.? Link
    farms may also be used to get around restrictions on the number of -I
    (include-file directory) arguments on older C preprocessors. However, they
    can also get completely out of hand, becoming the filesystem equivalent of
    spaghetti code. See also farm.

link farm

    A directory tree that contains mostly
   symbolic links to files in a master directory tree of files.
   Link farms save space when one is maintaining several nearly
   identical copies of the same source tree - for example, when
   the only difference is architecture-dependent object files.
   They also mean that changes to the master tree are instantly
   visible in the link farm.  Good text editors provide the
   option to replace a link with a new version of the target file
   when saving thus allowing the farm to have its own versions of
   just those files that differ from the master tree.

   E.g. "Let's freeze the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3
   and FROBOZZ-4 link farms."

   Link farms may also be used to get around restrictions on the
   number of "-I" (include-file directory) arguments on older C
   preprocessors.  However, they can also get completely out of
   hand, becoming the file system equivalent of spaghetti code.

   [Jargon File]

   (2001-02-08)