Since stepping to ubuntu, I have the habit of installing stuffkeeper/gmpc/mpd/etc outside the “default” location like /usr or /usr/local.

I have install everything in /opt/mpd/.
The following steps make that work:

• To make libs load I have added “/opt/mpd/lib/” to /etc/ld.so.conf .
• Add “/opt/mpd/bin/” to PATH. (depends on distro).
• Add “/opt/mpd/share” to XDG_DATA_DIRS.

Now programs installed there will work, and correctly show up in your gnome-menu.
Now you can easily install programs manually withouth the fear of overwriting distribution files, and if you want to return to “stock”, just remove the dir + the environment settings.

A shame gnome-do does not pick this up.