The alternatives --config command

[tech291083]

Hi,

I just did the following and up came two alternative, telling me that there are two programs that provide java. But my question is what this command alternatives --config java actually does? Can I use it to see how many programs provide PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby etc.

[root@localhost ~]# alternatives --config java

There are 2 programs which provide 'java'.

  Selection    Command
-----------------------------------------------
*+ 1           /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java
   2           /pathto/sunjava/java

Enter to keep the current selection[+], or type selection numb

Thanks...

[tech291083]

[root@localhost ~]# alternatives --config perl
[root@localhost ~]# alternatives --config php
[root@localhost ~]# alternatives --config ruby
[root@localhost ~]# alternatives --config python

Nothing retruned at the prompt for any of the commands above, why?