Where is source code for a Linux/Unix application most appropriately kept?

Question

As a developer, I've often downloaded and run

./configure
./make
./make install

to install apps onto my Linux system. But I've never been quite clear on the best place to keep the downloaded directory. My local Desktop is the default location, but I'd like to know what the best "official" place to keep it is. Also, does it vary by distro?

I'm running Ubuntu for now. I know apt-get install can do this for you, but sometimes the app I'm interested in simply isn't available on those lists.

Answer 1

Take a look at the FileSystem Hierarchy Standard: it's /usr/local/src. However, this is a contentious issue as you will find here.