Recursive subdirectory searching is the ability to specify a search not only of a specified directory `d', but recursively of all directories below `d'.
Since the TDS specifies precise locations for most files, with no extra levels of subdirectories allowed, true recursive searching is not actually required for a TDS-compliant implementation. We do, however, strongly recommend recursive searching as the most user-friendly and natural approach to the problem, rather than convoluted methods to specify paths without recursion.
This feature is already supported by many implementations of TeX and companion utilities, for example DECUS TeX for VMS, Dvips(k), emTeX (and its drivers), PubliC TeX, Web2c, Xdvi(k), and Y&YTeX.
Even if your TeX implementation does not directly support subdirectory searching, you may find it useful to adopt the structure if you do not use many fonts or packages. For instance, if you only use Computer Modern and AMS fonts, it would be feasible to store them in the TDS layout and list the directories individually in configuration files or environment variables.
The TWG recognizes that subdirectory searching places an extra burden on the system and may be the source of performance bottlenecks, particularly on slower machines. Nevertheless, we feel that subdirectory searching is imperative for a well-organized TDS, for the reasons stated in Section section Subdirectory searching. Implementors are encouraged to provide enhancements to the basic principle of subdirectory searching to avoid performance problems, e.g., the use of a filename cache (this can be as simple as a recursive directory listing) that is consulted before disk searching begins. If a match is found in the database, subdirectory searching is not required, and performance is thus independent of the number of subdirectories present on the system.
Different implementations specify subdirectory searching differently. In the interest of typographic clarity, the examples here do not use the `replaceable' font.
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