diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 255b94dfc99..1de49634af8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -176,19 +176,7 @@ set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE)
 if(WITH_FHS)
   file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DEMODIR}
        ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/demolocation SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_FONTSDIR} ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/fonts
-       SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/colors
-       ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/etc/colors SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/colors.desc
-       ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/etc/colors.desc SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/element_list
-       ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/etc/element_list SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/renamed_options
-       ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/etc/renamed_options SYMBOLIC)
-  file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/VERSIONNUMBER
-       ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/etc/VERSIONNUMBER SYMBOLIC)
-  file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${GISBASE}/gui/wxpython")
+  file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/gui/wxpython")
   file(CREATE_LINK ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GUIDIR}/wxpython/xml
        ${RUNTIME_GISBASE}/gui/wxpython/xml SYMBOLIC)
 endif()
@@ -228,6 +216,17 @@ if(WIN32)
     ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E env "PATH=${BIN_DIR}${sep}${SCRIPTS_DIR}${sep}${env_path}${sep}${LIB_DIR}"
     "PYTHONPATH=${ETC_PYTHON_DIR}${sep}${GUI_WXPYTHON_DIR}${sep}$ENV{PYTHONPATH}"
     "GRASS_PYTHON=${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE}" "GISBASE=${RUN_GISBASE_NATIVE}" "GISRC=${GISRC}" "LC_ALL=C" "LANG=C"
+    "GRASS_COLORSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_COLORSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_DOCDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_DOCDIR}"
+    "GRASS_ETCDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_ETCDIR}"
+    "GRASS_FONTSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_FONTSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUIRESDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GUIRESDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUIWXDIR=${GUI_WXPYTHON_DIR}"
+    "GRASS_LOCALEDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_LOCALEDIR}"
+    "GRASS_MKDOCSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_MKDOCSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_SHAREDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_SHAREDIR}"
     "ARCH=${BUILD_ARCH}" "ARCH_DISTDIR=${RUN_GISBASE_NATIVE}"
     "LANGUAGE=C" "MODULE_TOPDIR=${MODULE_TOPDIR}" "HTMLDIR=${DOC_DIR}"
     "LC_ALL=C" "LANG=C"
@@ -244,6 +243,17 @@ else()
     "PYTHONPATH=${ETC_PYTHON_DIR}${sep}${GUI_WXPYTHON_DIR}${sep}$ENV{PYTHONPATH}"
     "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LIB_DIR}${sep}$ENV{LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
     "GISBASE=${RUN_GISBASE_NATIVE}" "GISRC=${GISRC}" "LC_ALL=C" "LANG=C"
+    "GRASS_COLORSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_COLORSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_DOCDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_DOCDIR}"
+    "GRASS_ETCDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_ETCDIR}"
+    "GRASS_FONTSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_FONTSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUIRESDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GUIRESDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR}"
+    "GRASS_GUIWXDIR=${GUI_WXPYTHON_DIR}"
+    "GRASS_LOCALEDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_LOCALEDIR}"
+    "GRASS_MKDOCSDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_MKDOCSDIR}"
+    "GRASS_SHAREDIR=${RUNTIME_GRASS_SHAREDIR}"
     "ARCH=${BUILD_ARCH}" "ARCH_DISTDIR=${RUN_GISBASE_NATIVE}"
     "LANGUAGE=C" "MODULE_TOPDIR=${MODULE_TOPDIR}" "HTMLDIR=${DOC_DIR}"
     "VERSION_NUMBER=\"${GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER}\""
@@ -299,14 +309,18 @@ endif()
 add_custom_target(
   r_colors_thumbnails ALL
   COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E make_directory
-          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/colortables
+          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/colortables
   COMMAND ${grass_env_command} ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${THUMBNAILS_PY}
-          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/colortables
-  BYPRODUCTS ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/colortables
+          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/colortables
+  BYPRODUCTS ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/colortables
   COMMENT "Creating thumbnails"
   DEPENDS ALL_MODULES)
-install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/colortables
-        DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/colortables
+        DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR})
+if(WITH_FHS AND WITH_DOCS)
+  install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/colortables
+          DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+endif()
 
 set(misc_files
     AUTHORS
diff --git a/cmake/modules/GRASSInstallDirs.cmake b/cmake/modules/GRASSInstallDirs.cmake
index f9f33ad178a..739790138a0 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/GRASSInstallDirs.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/GRASSInstallDirs.cmake
@@ -22,12 +22,14 @@ if(WITH_FHS)
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_DEVDOCDIR
       "${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATAROOTDIR}/doc/${PROJECT_NAME_LOWER}-dev-doc")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_MANDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_MANDIR}")
-  set(GRASS_INSTALL_MKDOCSDIR
-      "${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATAROOTDIR}/doc/${PROJECT_NAME_LOWER}-mkdocs")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_MKDOCSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_SHAREDIR}/mkdocs")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_DEMODIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_SHAREDIR}/demolocation")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_MISCDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_SHAREDIR}")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_MAKEFILEDIR "${GISBASE_DIR}/Make")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR}")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/colors")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/graphics")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_GRASS_GUIWXDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GUIDIR}/wxpython")
 else()
   message("Legacy file structure")
   set(GISBASE_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/grass${GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR}${GRASS_VERSION_MINOR}")
@@ -52,6 +54,9 @@ else()
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_MISCDIR "${GISBASE_DIR}")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_MAKEFILEDIR "${GISBASE_DIR}/Make")
   set(GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR "${GISBASE_DIR}/locale")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}/colors")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}")
+  set(GRASS_INSTALL_GRASS_GUIWXDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GUIDIR}/wxpython")
 endif()
 
 message(STATUS "GISBASE_DIR ${GISBASE_DIR}")
@@ -76,10 +81,38 @@ message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_DEMODIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_DEMODIR}")
 message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_MISCDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_MISCDIR}")
 message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_MAKEFILEDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_MAKEFILEDIR}")
 message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR}")
+message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR}")
+message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}")
+message(STATUS "GRASS_INSTALL_GRASS_GUIWXDIR ${GRASS_INSTALL_GRASS_GUIWXDIR}")
 
 set(OUTDIR "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/output")
 set(GISBASE ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${GISBASE_DIR})
+
+set(GRASS_SHAREDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_SHAREDIR}")
+set(GRASS_LOCALEDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR}")
+set(GRASS_GUIRESDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GUIDIR}")
+set(GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GUISCRIPTDIR}")
+set(GRASS_DOCDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}")
+set(GRASS_MKDOCSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_MKDOCSDIR}")
+set(GRASS_FONTSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_FONTSDIR}")
+set(GRASS_COLORSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR}")
+set(GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}")
+set(GRASS_ETCDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}")
+set(GRASS_PYDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_PYDIR}")
+set(GRASS_GUIWXDIR "${GRASS_INSTALL_GRASS_GUIWXDIR}")
+
 set(RUNTIME_GISBASE "${OUTDIR}/${GISBASE_DIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_SHAREDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_SHAREDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_LOCALEDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_LOCALEDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_GUIRESDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GUIDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GUISCRIPTDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_DOCDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_MKDOCSDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_MKDOCSDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_FONTSDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_FONTSDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_COLORSDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_COLORSDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}")
+set(RUNTIME_GRASS_ETCDIR "${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_ETCDIR}")
+
 set(GISRC_NAME ".grassrc${GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR}${GRASS_VERSION_MINOR}")
 
 file(TO_NATIVE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}" MODULE_TOPDIR)
diff --git a/cmake/modules/copy_python_files_in_subdir.cmake b/cmake/modules/copy_python_files_in_subdir.cmake
index be477f6066c..26053c7936e 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/copy_python_files_in_subdir.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/copy_python_files_in_subdir.cmake
@@ -9,10 +9,15 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 #]]
 
 function(copy_python_files_in_subdir dir_name dst_prefix)
-  cmake_parse_arguments(G "PRE_BUILD;PRE_LINK;POST_BUILD" "TARGET" "" ${ARGN})
+  cmake_parse_arguments(G "PRE_BUILD;PRE_LINK;POST_BUILD" "TARGET" "EXCLUDE" ${ARGN})
 
   file(GLOB PY_FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${dir_name}/*.py")
 
+  if(G_EXCLUDE)
+    list(TRANSFORM G_EXCLUDE APPEND "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${dir_name}/")
+    list(REMOVE_ITEM PY_FILES ${G_EXCLUDE})
+  endif()
+
   if(DEFINED G_TARGET)
     if(${G_PRE_BUILD})
       set(BUILD PRE_BUILD)
diff --git a/display/CMakeLists.txt b/display/CMakeLists.txt
index 9ddb3faa214..5be9432a33e 100644
--- a/display/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/display/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -52,12 +52,16 @@ add_custom_command(
   TARGET d.barscale
   POST_BUILD
   COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E make_directory
-          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/barscales
+          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/barscales
   COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy ${d_barscale_png}
-          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/barscales
-  BYPRODUCTS ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/barscales)
-install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/barscales
-        DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+          ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/barscales
+  BYPRODUCTS ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/barscales)
+install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/barscales
+        DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR})
+if(WITH_FHS AND WITH_DOCS)
+  install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/barscales
+          DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+endif()
 
 build_program_in_subdir(d.colorlist DEPENDS grass_gis grass_display
                         grass_raster)
@@ -108,13 +112,17 @@ build_program_in_subdir(d.linegraph DEPENDS grass_gis grass_display grass_symb
 build_program_in_subdir(d.northarrow DEPENDS grass_gis grass_display grass_symb
                         ${LIBM})
 if(WITH_DOCS)
-  file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/northarrows)
+  file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/northarrows)
   file(GLOB d_northarrow_png
        ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/d.northarrow/thumbnails/*.png)
   file(COPY ${d_northarrow_png}
-       DESTINATION ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/northarrows)
-  install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/northarrows
-          DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+       DESTINATION ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/northarrows)
+  install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/northarrows
+          DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR})
+  if(WITH_FHS)
+    install(DIRECTORY ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_GRAPHICSDIR}/northarrows
+            DESTINATION ${GRASS_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
+  endif()
 endif()
 build_program_in_subdir(d.path DEPENDS grass_gis grass_display grass_vector)
 build_program_in_subdir(d.profile DEPENDS grass_gis grass_display grass_raster
diff --git a/display/d.linegraph/main.c b/display/d.linegraph/main.c
index 3aa493f78ac..654a080a9a2 100644
--- a/display/d.linegraph/main.c
+++ b/display/d.linegraph/main.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static char *icon_files(void)
 
     list = NULL;
     len = 0;
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_share_dir());
 
     dir = opendir(path);
     if (!dir)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ static char *icon_files(void)
         if (d->d_name[0] == '.')
             continue;
 
-        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_gisbase(),
+        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_share_dir(),
                  d->d_name);
         dir_i = opendir(path_i);
 
diff --git a/display/d.mon/start.c b/display/d.mon/start.c
index 2d741db0bf7..228bdc364c7 100644
--- a/display/d.mon/start.c
+++ b/display/d.mon/start.c
@@ -115,8 +115,12 @@ char *start_wx(const char *name, const char *element, int width, int height,
     mapfile = (char *)G_malloc(GPATH_MAX);
     mapfile[0] = '\0';
 
-    snprintf(progname, sizeof(progname), "%s/gui/wxpython/mapdisp/main.py",
-             G_gisbase());
+    const char *wxdir = getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+    if (!wxdir)
+        G_fatal_error(_("Incomplete GRASS session: Variable '%s' not set"),
+                      "GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+
+    snprintf(progname, sizeof(progname), "%s/mapdisp/main.py", wxdir);
     snprintf(str_width, sizeof(str_width), "%d", width);
     snprintf(str_height, sizeof(str_height), "%d", height);
 
diff --git a/display/d.vect.thematic/main.c b/display/d.vect.thematic/main.c
index 7fd51defe21..00e5934e101 100644
--- a/display/d.vect.thematic/main.c
+++ b/display/d.vect.thematic/main.c
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ static char *icon_files(void)
 
     list = NULL;
     len = 0;
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_share_dir());
 
     dir = opendir(path);
     if (!dir)
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ static char *icon_files(void)
         if (d->d_name[0] == '.')
             continue;
 
-        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_gisbase(),
+        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_share_dir(),
                  d->d_name);
         dir_i = opendir(path_i);
 
diff --git a/display/d.vect/main.c b/display/d.vect/main.c
index 265357a1ee7..4988b885425 100644
--- a/display/d.vect/main.c
+++ b/display/d.vect/main.c
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ char *icon_files(void)
 
     list = NULL;
     len = 0;
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/symbol", G_share_dir());
 
     dir = opendir(path);
     if (!dir)
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ char *icon_files(void)
         if (d->d_name[0] == '.')
             continue;
 
-        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_gisbase(),
+        snprintf(path_i, sizeof(path_i), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_share_dir(),
                  d->d_name);
         dir_i = opendir(path_i);
 
diff --git a/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/frame.py b/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/frame.py
index adba49b842d..36a28163ffc 100644
--- a/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/frame.py
+++ b/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/frame.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 # this enables to run application standalone (> python example/frame.py )
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "gui", "wxpython"))
+    sys.path.append(os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"])
 
 # i18n is taken care of in the grass library code.
 # So we need to import it before any of the GUI code.
diff --git a/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/g.gui.example.py b/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/g.gui.example.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 9c04d659458..fb2e94f4c36
--- a/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/g.gui.example.py
+++ b/doc/examples/gui/wxpython/g.gui.example.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 import grass.script.core as gcore
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    wxbase = os.path.join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "etc", "gui", "wxpython")
+    wxbase = os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"]
     if wxbase not in sys.path:
         sys.path.append(wxbase)
 
diff --git a/general/g.gui/main.c b/general/g.gui/main.c
index 91e7de7e128..a34782d3faf 100644
--- a/general/g.gui/main.c
+++ b/general/g.gui/main.c
@@ -104,8 +104,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
     }
 
-    snprintf(progname, sizeof(progname), "%s/gui/wxpython/wxgui.py",
-             G_gisbase());
+    const char *wxdir = getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+    if (!wxdir)
+        G_fatal_error(_("Incomplete GRASS session: Variable '%s' not set"),
+                      "GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+
+    snprintf(progname, sizeof(progname), "%s/wxgui.py", wxdir);
     if (access(progname, F_OK) == -1)
         G_fatal_error(_("Your installation doesn't include GUI, exiting."));
 
diff --git a/general/g.mapset/main.c b/general/g.mapset/main.c
index efef03d514b..9e214dea633 100644
--- a/general/g.mapset/main.c
+++ b/general/g.mapset/main.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (!gis_lock)
         G_fatal_error(_("Unable to read GIS_LOCK environment variable"));
 
-    G_asprintf(&lock_prog, "%s/etc/lock", G_gisbase());
+    G_asprintf(&lock_prog, "%s/lock", G_etc_dir());
 
     snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/.gislock", mapset_new_path);
     G_debug(2, "%s", path);
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     /* Clean temporary directory */
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/clean_temp", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/clean_temp", G_share_dir());
     G_verbose_message(_("Cleaning up temporary files..."));
     G_spawn(path, "clean_temp", NULL);
 
diff --git a/general/g.mapsets/main.c b/general/g.mapsets/main.c
index 778e60703c1..a4ef2f2f832 100644
--- a/general/g.mapsets/main.c
+++ b/general/g.mapsets/main.c
@@ -215,8 +215,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt.dialog->answer) {
         if (opt.mapset->answer)
             G_warning(_("Option <%s> ignored"), opt.mapset->key);
-        snprintf(path_buf, sizeof(path_buf),
-                 "%s/gui/wxpython/modules/mapsets_picker.py", G_gisbase());
+
+        const char *wxdir = getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+        if (!wxdir)
+            G_fatal_error(_("Incomplete GRASS session: Variable '%s' not set"),
+                          "GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+
+        snprintf(path_buf, sizeof(path_buf), "%s/modules/mapsets_picker.py",
+                 wxdir);
         G_spawn(getenv("GRASS_PYTHON"), "mapsets_picker.py", path_buf, NULL);
         exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
     }
diff --git a/general/g.mkfontcap/Makefile b/general/g.mkfontcap/Makefile
index acf9cb184a3..78aa5240961 100644
--- a/general/g.mkfontcap/Makefile
+++ b/general/g.mkfontcap/Makefile
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ default: cmd $(CAPFILE)
 endif
 
 $(CAPFILE): $(BIN)/$(PGM)$(EXE)
-	GISRC=junk GISBASE=$(RUN_GISBASE) \
+	GISRC=junk GISBASE=$(RUN_GISBASE) GRASS_SHAREDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE) \
+	GRASS_LOCALEDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/locale GRASS_FONTSDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/fonts \
 	$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR)="$(ARCH_LIBDIR):$(BASE_LIBDIR):$($(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR))" \
 	$< -s > $@
diff --git a/general/g.mkfontcap/main.c b/general/g.mkfontcap/main.c
index 0280e966103..be1a674dc93 100644
--- a/general/g.mkfontcap/main.c
+++ b/general/g.mkfontcap/main.c
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 
     if (!tostdout->answer) {
-        const char *gisbase = G_gisbase();
+        const char *share_dir = G_share_dir();
         const char *alt_file = getenv("GRASS_FONT_CAP");
 
         if (alt_file)
             fontcapfile = G_store(alt_file);
         else
-            G_asprintf(&fontcapfile, "%s/etc/fontcap", gisbase);
+            G_asprintf(&fontcapfile, "%s/etc/fontcap", share_dir);
 
         if (!access(fontcapfile, F_OK)) { /* File exists? */
             if (!G_get_overwrite())
diff --git a/general/g.mkfontcap/stroke_fonts.c b/general/g.mkfontcap/stroke_fonts.c
index d94b0f441c0..afbfa87d135 100644
--- a/general/g.mkfontcap/stroke_fonts.c
+++ b/general/g.mkfontcap/stroke_fonts.c
@@ -48,12 +48,11 @@ static const char *get_desc(const char *);
 
 void find_stroke_fonts(void)
 {
-    char *dirpath, *fonttable;
+    char *fonttable;
     char **dirlisting;
     int numfiles, i;
 
-    G_asprintf(&dirpath, "%s/fonts", G_gisbase());
-
+    const char *dirpath = G_fonts_dir();
     dirlisting = G_ls2(dirpath, &numfiles);
 
     G_asprintf(&fonttable, "%s/fonts.table", dirpath);
diff --git a/general/g.setproj/get_stp.c b/general/g.setproj/get_stp.c
index 3969a735f38..54b51a4f0f3 100644
--- a/general/g.setproj/get_stp.c
+++ b/general/g.setproj/get_stp.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ int get_stp_code(int code, char *string, char *paramfile)
     int gotit = 0, stp;
     FILE *fp;
 
-    snprintf(nad27, sizeof(nad27), "%s%s", G_gisbase(), paramfile);
+    snprintf(nad27, sizeof(nad27), "%s%s", G_share_dir(), paramfile);
     fp = fopen(nad27, "r");
     if (fp == NULL) {
         snprintf(buff, sizeof(buff), "Can not open NAD27 file %s", nad27);
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ int get_stp_num(void)
     int record, icode, reccnt = 0, special_case;
     char STabbr[50], COname[50];
 
-    snprintf(FIPSfile, sizeof(FIPSfile), "%s/etc/proj/FIPS.code", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(FIPSfile, sizeof(FIPSfile), "%s/etc/proj/FIPS.code",
+             G_share_dir());
 
     for (;;) {
 
diff --git a/general/g.setproj/proj.c b/general/g.setproj/proj.c
index eb6de8a7bd7..7be8946758a 100644
--- a/general/g.setproj/proj.c
+++ b/general/g.setproj/proj.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ struct proj_unit *get_proj_unit(const char *arg)
     struct proj_unit *unit;
     FILE *fp;
 
-    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/units.table", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/units.table", G_share_dir());
 
     fp = fopen(buf, "r");
     if (!fp)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct proj_desc *get_proj_desc(const char *arg)
     struct proj_desc *res;
     FILE *fp;
 
-    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/desc.table", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/desc.table", G_share_dir());
 
     fp = fopen(buf, "r");
     if (!fp)
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ struct proj_parm *get_proj_parms(const char *arg)
     int done;
     FILE *fp;
 
-    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/parms.table", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/proj/parms.table", G_share_dir());
 
     fp = fopen(buf, "r");
     if (!fp)
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/core/globalvar.py b/gui/wxpython/core/globalvar.py
index a3c8b50de79..7e3cbd1cbec 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/core/globalvar.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/core/globalvar.py
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 # path to python scripts
-ETCDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "etc")
-GUIDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "gui")
-WXGUIDIR = os.path.join(GUIDIR, "wxpython")
-ICONDIR = os.path.join(GUIDIR, "icons")
-IMGDIR = os.path.join(GUIDIR, "images")
+PYDIR = os.getenv("GRASS_PYDIR")
+ETCDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR"), "etc")
+WXGUIDIR = os.getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR")
+ICONDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GRASS_GUIRESDIR"), "icons")
+IMGDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GRASS_GUIRESDIR"), "images")
 SYMBDIR = os.path.join(IMGDIR, "symbols")
 
 WXPY3_MIN_VERSION = [4, 0, 0, 0]
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def UpdateGRASSAddOnCommands(eList=None):
 gtk3 = "gtk3" in wx.PlatformInfo
 
 # Add GUIDIR/scripts into path
-os.environ["PATH"] = os.path.join(GUIDIR, "scripts") + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
+os.environ["PATH"] = os.environ["GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR"] + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
 
 ignoredCmdPattern = (
     r"^d\..*|^r[3]?\.mapcalc$|^i.group$|^r.import$|"
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/core/settings.py b/gui/wxpython/core/settings.py
index e0758a482d6..10a126d10ba 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/core/settings.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/core/settings.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def __init__(self):
     def _generateLocale(self):
         """Generate locales"""
         try:
-            locale_path = Path(os.environ["GISBASE"]) / "locale"
+            locale_path = Path(os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"])
             self.locs = [p.name for p in locale_path.iterdir() if p.is_dir()]
             self.locs.append("en")  # GRASS doesn't ship EN po files
             self.locs.sort()
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/core/toolboxes.py b/gui/wxpython/core/toolboxes.py
index 0bfac9d6b9f..2f9ec1b4f3f 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/core/toolboxes.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/core/toolboxes.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 # if this will become part of grass Python library or module, this should be
 # parametrized, so we will get rid of the definition here
 # (GUI will use its definition and build also its own)
-WXGUIDIR = os.path.join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "gui", "wxpython")
+WXGUIDIR = os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"]
 
 
 # this could be placed to functions
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/gui_core/widgets.py b/gui/wxpython/gui_core/widgets.py
index 3e545e86245..f75217bb6f1 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/gui_core/widgets.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/gui_core/widgets.py
@@ -1727,7 +1727,7 @@ class ColorTablesComboBox(PictureComboBox):
 
     def _getPath(self, name):
         return os.path.join(
-            os.getenv("GISBASE"), "docs", "html", "colortables", "%s.png" % name
+            os.getenv("GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR"), "colortables", "%s.png" % name
         )
 
 
@@ -1735,9 +1735,7 @@ class BarscalesComboBox(PictureComboBox):
     """ComboBox with barscales for d.barscale."""
 
     def _getPath(self, name):
-        return os.path.join(
-            os.getenv("GISBASE"), "docs", "html", "barscales", name + ".png"
-        )
+        return os.path.join(os.getenv("GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR"), "barscales", name + ".png")
 
 
 class NArrowsComboBox(PictureComboBox):
@@ -1745,7 +1743,7 @@ class NArrowsComboBox(PictureComboBox):
 
     def _getPath(self, name):
         return os.path.join(
-            os.getenv("GISBASE"), "docs", "html", "northarrows", "%s.png" % name
+            os.getenv("GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR"), "northarrows", "%s.png" % name
         )
 
 
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/image2target/ii2t_gis_set.py b/gui/wxpython/image2target/ii2t_gis_set.py
index e2b3da9e60d..c9952ed6160 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/image2target/ii2t_gis_set.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/image2target/ii2t_gis_set.py
@@ -88,11 +88,9 @@ def __init__(self, parent=None, id=wx.ID_ANY, style=wx.DEFAULT_FRAME_STYLE):
         # image
         try:
             if os.getenv("ISISROOT"):
-                name = os.path.join(
-                    globalvar.GUIDIR, "images", "startup_banner_isis.png"
-                )
+                name = os.path.join(globalvar.IMGDIR, "startup_banner_isis.png")
             else:
-                name = os.path.join(globalvar.GUIDIR, "images", "startup_banner.png")
+                name = os.path.join(globalvar.IMGDIR, "startup_banner.png")
             self.hbitmap = wx.StaticBitmap(
                 self.panel, wx.ID_ANY, wx.Bitmap(name=name, type=wx.BITMAP_TYPE_PNG)
             )
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/lmgr/frame.py b/gui/wxpython/lmgr/frame.py
index 9524c3a8b5d..3f64806f9cd 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/lmgr/frame.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/lmgr/frame.py
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@
 except ImportError:
     import wx.lib.flatnotebook as FN
 
-if os.path.join(globalvar.ETCDIR, "python") not in sys.path:
-    sys.path.append(os.path.join(globalvar.ETCDIR, "python"))
+if globalvar.PYDIR not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.append(globalvar.PYDIR)
 
 from grass.script import core as grass
 from grass.script.utils import decode
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/main_window/frame.py b/gui/wxpython/main_window/frame.py
index dd7dbe4cf69..d4d5891e619 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/main_window/frame.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/main_window/frame.py
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@
 except ImportError:
     import wx.lib.flatnotebook as FN
 
-if os.path.join(globalvar.ETCDIR, "python") not in sys.path:
-    sys.path.append(os.path.join(globalvar.ETCDIR, "python"))
+if globalvar.PYDIR not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.append(globalvar.PYDIR)
 
 from grass.script import core as grass
 from grass.script.utils import decode
diff --git a/gui/wxpython/psmap/dialogs.py b/gui/wxpython/psmap/dialogs.py
index 2561e3c388e..fc0cec0698d 100644
--- a/gui/wxpython/psmap/dialogs.py
+++ b/gui/wxpython/psmap/dialogs.py
@@ -2203,13 +2203,13 @@ def __init__(self, parent, id, vectors, tmpSettings):
         self.currLayer = self.vPropertiesDict["layer"]
 
         # path to symbols, patterns
-        gisbase = os.getenv("GISBASE")
-        self.symbolPath = os.path.join(gisbase, "etc", "symbol")
+        g_share_dir = os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR")
+        self.symbolPath = os.path.join(g_share_dir, "etc", "symbol")
         self.symbols = []
         for dir in Path(self.symbolPath).iterdir():
             for symbol in Path(self.symbolPath).joinpath(dir.name).iterdir():
                 self.symbols.append(os.path.join(dir.name, symbol.name))
-        self.patternPath = os.path.join(gisbase, "etc", "paint", "patterns")
+        self.patternPath = os.path.join(g_share_dir, "etc", "paint", "patterns")
 
         # notebook
         notebook = Notebook(parent=self, id=wx.ID_ANY, style=wx.BK_DEFAULT)
@@ -6193,8 +6193,8 @@ def _newObject(self):
         return NorthArrow(self.id, self.instruction, env=self.env)
 
     def _getImageDirectory(self):
-        gisbase = os.getenv("GISBASE")
-        return os.path.join(gisbase, "etc", "paint", "decorations")
+        g_share_dir = os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR")
+        return os.path.join(g_share_dir, "etc", "paint", "decorations")
 
     def _addConvergence(self, panel, gridBagSizer):
         convergence = Button(parent=panel, id=wx.ID_ANY, label=_("Compute convergence"))
diff --git a/include/Make/Install.make b/include/Make/Install.make
index 799a695e80d..c9e757e634d 100644
--- a/include/Make/Install.make
+++ b/include/Make/Install.make
@@ -124,6 +124,12 @@ $(DESTDIR)$(INST_DIR) $(DESTDIR)$(UNIX_BIN):
 $(STARTUP): $(ARCH_DISTDIR)/$(GRASS_NAME).tmp
 	sed -e 's#'@GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH@'#'$(INST_DIR)'#g' \
 	    -e 's#'@LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR@'#'$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR)'#g' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_SHAREDIR@#$(INST_DIR)#' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_LOCALE@#$(INST_DIR)/locale#' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_PYDIR@#$(INST_DIR)/etc/python#' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_GUIWXDIR@#$(INST_DIR)/gui/wxpython#' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR@#$(INST_DIR)/gui/scripts#' \
+	    -e 's#@GRASS_GUIRESDIR@#$(INST_DIR)/gui#' \
 	    -e 's#'@CONFIG_PROJSHARE@'#'$(PROJSHARE)'#g' \
 	    $< > $@
 	-$(CHMOD) a+x $@
diff --git a/include/Make/Rules.make b/include/Make/Rules.make
index 9e765fab7a4..0cc10177c51 100644
--- a/include/Make/Rules.make
+++ b/include/Make/Rules.make
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ GRASS_PYTHONPATH := $(call mkpath,$(GISBASE)/etc/python,$(GRASS_PYTHONPATH))
 run_grass = \
 	GISRC=$(RUN_GISRC) \
 	GISBASE=$(RUN_GISBASE) \
+	GRASS_SHAREDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE) \
+	GRASS_LOCALEDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/locale \
+	GRASS_GUIWXDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/gui/wxpython \
+	GRASS_GUIRESDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/gui \
+	GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/gui/scripts \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/docs/mkdocs \
+	GRASS_COLORSDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/etc/colors \
+	GRASS_FONTSDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/fonts \
+	GRASS_GRAPHICSDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/docs/html \
+	GRASS_ETCDIR=$(RUN_GISBASE)/etc \
 	PATH="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/bin:$(GISBASE)/bin:$(GISBASE)/scripts:$$PATH" \
 	PYTHONPATH="$(GRASS_PYTHONPATH)" \
 	$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR)="$(BIN):$(GISBASE)/bin:$(GISBASE)/scripts:$(ARCH_LIBDIR):$(BASE_LIBDIR):$($(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR))" \
diff --git a/include/grass/defs/gis.h b/include/grass/defs/gis.h
index 8bacb260cc2..8f1af5e47e8 100644
--- a/include/grass/defs/gis.h
+++ b/include/grass/defs/gis.h
@@ -394,6 +394,13 @@ void G__gisinit(const char *, const char *);
 void G__no_gisinit(const char *);
 void G_init_all(void);
 
+/* grass_install_dirs.c */
+const char *G_locale_dir(void);
+const char *G_share_dir(void);
+const char *G_fonts_dir(void);
+const char *G_colors_dir(void);
+const char *G_etc_dir(void);
+
 /* handler.c */
 void G_add_error_handler(void (*)(void *), void *);
 void G_remove_error_handler(void (*)(void *), void *);
diff --git a/lib/driver/font2.c b/lib/driver/font2.c
index eaa91e069d6..4b1091ff13a 100644
--- a/lib/driver/font2.c
+++ b/lib/driver/font2.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ static void load_glyphs(void)
     for (i = 1; i <= 4; i++) {
         char buf[GPATH_MAX];
 
-        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/fonts/hersh.oc%d", G_gisbase(), i);
+        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/fonts/hersh.oc%d", G_share_dir(), i);
         read_hersh(buf);
     }
 }
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ static void read_fontmap(const char *name)
     num_chars = 0;
     memset(fontmap, 0, sizeof(fontmap));
 
-    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/fonts/%s.hmp", G_gisbase(), name);
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/fonts/%s.hmp", G_share_dir(), name);
 
     fp = fopen(buf, "r");
     if (!fp) {
diff --git a/lib/driver/parse_ftcap.c b/lib/driver/parse_ftcap.c
index e8be0572c25..4c03d83fba2 100644
--- a/lib/driver/parse_ftcap.c
+++ b/lib/driver/parse_ftcap.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ struct GFONT_CAP *parse_fontcap(void)
                 capfile);
     }
     if (fp == NULL) {
-        snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/etc/fontcap", G_gisbase());
+        snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/fontcap", G_etc_dir());
         if ((fp = fopen(file, "r")) == NULL)
             G_warning(_("%s: No font definition file"), file);
     }
diff --git a/lib/gis/color_rules.c b/lib/gis/color_rules.c
index bb3ace277f8..8c998b223df 100644
--- a/lib/gis/color_rules.c
+++ b/lib/gis/color_rules.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ struct colorinfo *get_colorinfo(int *nrules)
     char **cnames;
 
     /* load color rules */
-    snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/colors", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s", G_colors_dir());
 
     *nrules = 0;
     cnames = G_ls2(path, nrules);
@@ -284,8 +284,7 @@ struct colorinfo *get_colorinfo(int *nrules)
         colorinfo[i].desc = NULL;
 
         /* open color rule file */
-        snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/colors/%s", G_gisbase(),
-                 colorinfo[i].name);
+        snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/%s", G_colors_dir(), colorinfo[i].name);
         fp = fopen(path, "r");
         if (!fp)
             G_fatal_error(_("Unable to open color rule"));
@@ -361,7 +360,7 @@ struct colorinfo *get_colorinfo(int *nrules)
     qsort(colorinfo, *nrules, sizeof(struct colorinfo), cmp_clrname);
 
     /* load color descriptions */
-    snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/colors.desc", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/colors.desc", G_etc_dir());
     fp = fopen(path, "r");
     if (!fp)
         G_fatal_error(_("Unable to open color descriptions"));
diff --git a/lib/gis/datum.c b/lib/gis/datum.c
index 8931dd328de..aeaed3c1246 100644
--- a/lib/gis/datum.c
+++ b/lib/gis/datum.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ void G_read_datum_table(void)
     if (G_is_initialized(&table.initialized))
         return;
 
-    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_gisbase(), DATUMTABLE);
+    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_share_dir(), DATUMTABLE);
 
     fd = fopen(file, "r");
     if (!fd) {
diff --git a/lib/gis/find_etc.c b/lib/gis/find_etc.c
index 59e8579689e..eed15c21c62 100644
--- a/lib/gis/find_etc.c
+++ b/lib/gis/find_etc.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static char *G__find_etc(const char *name)
     /*
      * check application etc dir
      */
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/%s", G_gisbase(), name);
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/%s", G_share_dir(), name);
     if (access(path, 0) == 0)
         return G_store(path);
 
diff --git a/lib/gis/get_ellipse.c b/lib/gis/get_ellipse.c
index 2a208c47bed..802200d6406 100644
--- a/lib/gis/get_ellipse.c
+++ b/lib/gis/get_ellipse.c
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ int G_read_ellipsoid_table(int fatal)
     if (G_is_initialized(&table.initialized))
         return 1;
 
-    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/etc/proj/ellipse.table", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/etc/proj/ellipse.table", G_share_dir());
     fd = fopen(file, "r");
 
     if (fd == NULL) {
diff --git a/lib/gis/grass_install_dirs.c b/lib/gis/grass_install_dirs.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..468def9b5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/gis/grass_install_dirs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*!
+   \file lib/gis/grass_install_dirs.c
+
+   \brief GIS Library - Handles program initialization.
+
+   \author Nicklas Larsson
+
+   (c) 2025 by the GRASS Development Team
+
+   SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include <grass/gis.h>
+#include <grass/glocale.h>
+
+static const char *get_g_env(const char *);
+
+const char *G_share_dir(void)
+{
+    return get_g_env("GRASS_SHAREDIR");
+}
+
+const char *G_locale_dir(void)
+{
+    return get_g_env("GRASS_LOCALEDIR");
+}
+
+const char *G_fonts_dir(void)
+{
+    return get_g_env("GRASS_FONTSDIR");
+}
+
+const char *G_colors_dir(void)
+{
+    return get_g_env("GRASS_COLORSDIR");
+}
+
+const char *G_etc_dir(void)
+{
+    return get_g_env("GRASS_ETCDIR");
+}
+
+static const char *get_g_env(const char *env_var)
+{
+    const char *value = getenv(env_var);
+    if (value)
+        return value;
+
+    G_fatal_error(_("Incomplete GRASS session: Variable '%s' not set"),
+                  env_var);
+}
diff --git a/lib/gis/is.c b/lib/gis/is.c
index 3882f7d25e5..73ff6fc8274 100644
--- a/lib/gis/is.c
+++ b/lib/gis/is.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ static int test_path_file(const char *path, const char *file)
 
 int G_is_gisbase(const char *path)
 {
-    return test_path_file(path, "etc/element_list");
+    return test_path_file(path, "etc/echo");
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/gis/locale.c b/lib/gis/locale.c
index de0784f234c..3d45a6e74eb 100644
--- a/lib/gis/locale.c
+++ b/lib/gis/locale.c
@@ -39,14 +39,9 @@ void G_init_locale(void)
 #ifdef LC_MESSAGES
     setlocale(LC_MESSAGES, "");
 #endif
-    const char *gisbase = getenv("GISBASE");
-
-    if (gisbase && *gisbase) {
-        char localedir[GPATH_MAX];
-
-        strcpy(localedir, gisbase);
-        strcat(localedir, "/locale");
+    const char *localedir = G_locale_dir();
 
+    if (localedir && *localedir) {
         bindtextdomain("grasslibs", localedir);
         bindtextdomain("grassmods", localedir);
     }
diff --git a/lib/gis/parser.c b/lib/gis/parser.c
index a7415dfc4c8..df556e272b0 100644
--- a/lib/gis/parser.c
+++ b/lib/gis/parser.c
@@ -988,8 +988,12 @@ int module_gui_wx(void)
     if (!st->pgm_path)
         G_fatal_error(_("Unable to determine program name"));
 
-    snprintf(script, GPATH_MAX, "%s/gui/wxpython/gui_core/forms.py",
-             getenv("GISBASE"));
+    const char *wxdir = getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+    if (!wxdir)
+        G_fatal_error(_("Incomplete GRASS session: Variable '%s' not set"),
+                      "GRASS_GUIWXDIR");
+
+    snprintf(script, GPATH_MAX, "%s/gui_core/forms.py", wxdir);
     if (access(script, F_OK) != -1)
         G_spawn(getenv("GRASS_PYTHON"), getenv("GRASS_PYTHON"), script,
                 G_recreate_command_original_path(), NULL);
@@ -1816,7 +1820,7 @@ const char *get_renamed_option(const char *key)
         /* read renamed options from file (renamed_options) */
         char path[GPATH_MAX];
 
-        snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/renamed_options", G_gisbase());
+        snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/renamed_options", G_share_dir());
         st->renamed_options = G_read_key_value_file(path);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/init/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/init/CMakeLists.txt
index 89509db5c69..1071c67fba7 100644
--- a/lib/init/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/init/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,11 +60,14 @@ endif()
 
 # configure and install grass.py
 set(GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH ${RUNTIME_GISBASE})
+set(GRASS_PREFIX ${OUTDIR})
 configure_file(grass.py ${OUTDIR}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}/${START_UP} @ONLY)
 
 set(GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH ${GISBASE})
+set(GRASS_PREFIX ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX})
 configure_file(grass.py ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${START_UP} @ONLY)
 unset(GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH)
+unset(GRASS_PREFIX)
 
 install(PROGRAMS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${START_UP}
         DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
diff --git a/lib/init/Makefile b/lib/init/Makefile
index 99366b060a9..b6f25204b04 100644
--- a/lib/init/Makefile
+++ b/lib/init/Makefile
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ $(ARCH_BINDIR)/$(START_UP): grass.py
 endif
 	rm -f $@
 	sed \
-	-e 's#@GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH@#$(RUN_GISBASE)#' \
 	-e 's#@GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER@#$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER)#' \
 	-e 's#@GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR@#$(GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR)#' \
 	-e 's#@GRASS_VERSION_MINOR@#$(GRASS_VERSION_MINOR)#' \
@@ -77,6 +76,8 @@ endif
 	-e 's#@LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR@#$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR)#' \
 	-e 's#@START_UP@#$(START_UP)#' \
 	-e 's#@CONFIG_PROJSHARE@#$(PROJSHARE)#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PREFIX@#$(RUN_GISBASE)#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PYDIR@#etc/python#' \
 	$< > $@
 	chmod +x $@
 
@@ -91,6 +92,8 @@ $(ARCH_DISTDIR)/$(START_UP).tmp: grass.py
 	-e 's#@GRASS_CONFIG_DIR@#$(GRASS_CONFIG_DIR)#' \
 	-e 's#@LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR@#$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH_VAR)#' \
 	-e 's#@CONFIG_PROJSHARE@#$(PROJSHARE)#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PREFIX@#$(RUN_GISBASE)#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PYDIR@#etc/python#' \
 	$< > $@
 
 $(ETC)/echo$(EXE) $(ETC)/run$(EXE): $(ETC)/%$(EXE): $(OBJDIR)/%.o
diff --git a/lib/init/grass.py b/lib/init/grass.py
index 2e6d955cb06..dc35c4af690 100755
--- a/lib/init/grass.py
+++ b/lib/init/grass.py
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@
 # for wxpath
 _WXPYTHON_BASE = None
 
+GISBASE = None
+
 try:
     # Python >= 3.11
     ENCODING = locale.getencoding()
@@ -81,25 +83,7 @@
     print("Default locale not found, using UTF-8")  # intentionally not translatable
 
 # The "@...@" variables are being substituted during build process
-#
-# TODO: should GISBASE be renamed to something like GRASS_PATH?
-# GISBASE marks complete runtime, so no need to get it here when
-# setting it up, possible scenario: existing runtime and starting
-# GRASS in that, we want to overwrite the settings, not to take it
-# possibly same for GRASS_PROJSHARE and others but maybe not
-#
-# We need to simultaneously make sure that:
-# - we get GISBASE from os.environ if it is defined (doesn't this mean that we are
-#   already inside a GRASS session? If we are, why do we need to run this script
-#   again???).
-# - GISBASE exists as an ENV variable
-#
-# pmav99: Ugly as hell, but that's what the code before the refactoring was doing.
-if "GISBASE" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GISBASE")) > 0:
-    GISBASE = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GISBASE"])
-else:
-    GISBASE = os.path.normpath("@GISBASE_INSTALL_PATH@")
-    os.environ["GISBASE"] = GISBASE
+
 CMD_NAME = "@START_UP@"
 GRASS_VERSION = "@GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER@"
 GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR = "@GRASS_VERSION_MAJOR@"
@@ -1184,7 +1168,7 @@ def set_language(grass_config_dir: StrPath) -> None:
                         os.environ["LC_MESSAGES"] = "C"
                         os.environ["LC_NUMERIC"] = "C"
                         os.environ["LC_TIME"] = "C"
-                        gettext.install("grasslibs", gpath("locale"))
+                        gettext.install("grasslibs", os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"])
                         sys.stderr.write(
                             "All attempts to enable English language have"
                             " failed. GRASS running with C locale.\n"
@@ -1265,7 +1249,7 @@ def set_language(grass_config_dir: StrPath) -> None:
         del os.environ["LC_ALL"]  # Remove LC_ALL to not override LC_NUMERIC
 
     # From now on enforce the new language
-    gettext.install("grasslibs", gpath("locale"))
+    gettext.install("grasslibs", os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"])
 
 
 # TODO: the gisrcrc here does not make sense, remove it from load_gisrc
@@ -2103,9 +2087,16 @@ def validate_cmdline(params: Parameters) -> None:
 
 def find_grass_python_package() -> None:
     """Find path to grass package and add it to path"""
-    if os.path.exists(gpath("etc", "python")):
-        path_to_package = gpath("etc", "python")
-        sys.path.append(path_to_package)
+    GRASS_PREFIX = "@GRASS_PREFIX@"
+
+    if "GRASS_PYDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_PYDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_PYDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_PYDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_PYDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"] = GRASS_PYDIR
+
+    if os.path.exists(GRASS_PYDIR):
+        sys.path.append(GRASS_PYDIR)
         # now we can import stuff from grass package
     else:
         # Not translatable because we don't have translations loaded.
@@ -2115,6 +2106,12 @@ def find_grass_python_package() -> None:
         )
         raise RuntimeError(msg)
 
+    from grass.app import resource_paths
+
+    resource_paths.set_resource_paths()  # noqa: F821
+    global GISBASE
+    GISBASE = resource_paths.GISBASE
+
 
 def main() -> None:
     """The main function which does the whole setup and run procedure
diff --git a/lib/manage/read_list.c b/lib/manage/read_list.c
index 3c9d5fece4d..793b55a0ab8 100644
--- a/lib/manage/read_list.c
+++ b/lib/manage/read_list.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ int M_read_list(int check_if_empty, int *num)
     if (env)
         strcpy(element_list, env);
     else
-        snprintf(element_list, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/element_list", G_gisbase());
+        snprintf(element_list, GPATH_MAX, "%s/element_list", G_etc_dir());
     fd = fopen(element_list, "r");
 
     if (!fd)
diff --git a/lib/proj/convert.c b/lib/proj/convert.c
index 43edf512c10..d2950351e03 100644
--- a/lib/proj/convert.c
+++ b/lib/proj/convert.c
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ int GPJ_osr_to_grass(struct Cell_head *cellhd, struct Key_Value **projinfo,
                      * system */
 
                     snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/proj/projections",
-                             G_gisbase());
+                             G_share_dir());
                     if (G_lookup_key_value_from_file(path, pszProj, name,
                                                      sizeof(name)) > 0)
                         G_set_key_value("name", name, *projinfo);
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ int GPJ_osr_to_grass(struct Cell_head *cellhd, struct Key_Value **projinfo,
             /* use name of the projection as name for the coordinate system */
 
             snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/proj/projections",
-                     G_gisbase());
+                     G_share_dir());
             if (G_lookup_key_value_from_file(path, pszProj, name,
                                              sizeof(name)) > 0)
                 G_set_key_value("name", name, *projinfo);
@@ -1011,13 +1011,13 @@ int GPJ_wkt_to_grass(struct Cell_head *cellhd, struct Key_Value **projinfo,
 
 const char *GPJ_set_csv_loc(const char *name)
 {
-    const char *gisbase = G_gisbase();
+    const char *g_share_dir = G_share_dir();
     static char *buf = NULL;
 
     if (buf != NULL)
         G_free(buf);
 
-    G_asprintf(&buf, "%s%s/%s", gisbase, CSVDIR, name);
+    G_asprintf(&buf, "%s%s/%s", g_share_dir, CSVDIR, name);
 
     return buf;
 }
diff --git a/lib/proj/datum.c b/lib/proj/datum.c
index 1680b554f22..3bd9f5c5466 100644
--- a/lib/proj/datum.c
+++ b/lib/proj/datum.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ GPJ_get_datum_transform_by_name(const char *inputname)
 
     /* Now check for additional parameters in datumtransform.table */
 
-    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_gisbase(), DATUMTRANSFORMTABLE);
+    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_share_dir(), DATUMTRANSFORMTABLE);
 
     fd = fopen(file, "r");
     if (!fd) {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ struct datum_list *read_datum_table(void)
     int line;
     struct datum_list *current = NULL, *outputlist = NULL;
 
-    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_gisbase(), DATUMTABLE);
+    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_share_dir(), DATUMTABLE);
 
     fd = fopen(file, "r");
     if (!fd) {
diff --git a/lib/proj/ellipse.c b/lib/proj/ellipse.c
index ff26e096902..9f297ef519b 100644
--- a/lib/proj/ellipse.c
+++ b/lib/proj/ellipse.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ struct ellps_list *read_ellipsoid_table(int fatal)
     struct ellps_list *current = NULL, *outputlist = NULL;
     double a, e2, rf;
 
-    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_gisbase(), ELLIPSOIDTABLE);
+    snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s%s", G_share_dir(), ELLIPSOIDTABLE);
     fd = fopen(file, "r");
 
     if (!fd) {
diff --git a/lib/psdriver/graph_set.c b/lib/psdriver/graph_set.c
index fad5d70d1bc..600ab23f850 100644
--- a/lib/psdriver/graph_set.c
+++ b/lib/psdriver/graph_set.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static void write_prolog(void)
     strftime(date_str, sizeof(date_str), DATE_FORMAT, tm);
 
     snprintf(prolog_file, sizeof(prolog_file), "%s/etc/psdriver.ps",
-             G_gisbase());
+             G_share_dir());
 
     prolog_fp = fopen(prolog_file, "r");
     if (!prolog_fp)
diff --git a/lib/raster/color_rules.c b/lib/raster/color_rules.c
index 1d9ddd6f1eb..910bc050103 100644
--- a/lib/raster/color_rules.c
+++ b/lib/raster/color_rules.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ static void load_rules_name(struct Colors *colors, const char *name, DCELL min,
 {
     char path[GPATH_MAX];
 
-    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/etc/colors/%s", G_gisbase(), name);
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", G_colors_dir(), name);
 
     if (!load_rules_file(colors, path, min, max))
         G_fatal_error(_("Unable to load color rules <%s>"), name);
diff --git a/lib/symbol/read.c b/lib/symbol/read.c
index 5aacb78b32f..c1d7db06b46 100644
--- a/lib/symbol/read.c
+++ b/lib/symbol/read.c
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ SYMBOL *S_read(const char *sname)
         fp = G_fopen_old(buf, name, ms);
     }
     else { /* Search in GISBASE */
-        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_gisbase(), sname);
+        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/etc/symbol/%s", G_share_dir(), sname);
         fp = fopen(buf, "r");
     }
 
diff --git a/locale/Makefile b/locale/Makefile
index 60b1c8f955f..a17fbfbd1fa 100644
--- a/locale/Makefile
+++ b/locale/Makefile
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ WXPY_POTFILES = find ../gui/wxpython -name '*.py' | xargs grep -l "_(\"\|n_(\""
 MOD_PYFILES = find ../scripts -name '*.py' | xargs grep -l "_(\"\|n_(\""
 
 define po_stats
-GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" $(PYTHON) ./grass_po_stats.py
+GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" GRASS_SHAREDIR="$(RUN_GISBASE)" $(PYTHON) ./grass_po_stats.py
 endef
 
 #The xgettext utility is used to automate the creation of
diff --git a/locale/grass_po_stats.py b/locale/grass_po_stats.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index bfae49629d3..8d28db94833
--- a/locale/grass_po_stats.py
+++ b/locale/grass_po_stats.py
@@ -160,5 +160,5 @@ def main(in_dirpath, out_josonpath):
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     directory = "po/"
-    outfile = os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "translation_status.json")
+    outfile = os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"], "translation_status.json")
     sys.exit(main(directory, outfile))
diff --git a/man/Makefile b/man/Makefile
index 820b8a9f830..0f1b7321f94 100644
--- a/man/Makefile
+++ b/man/Makefile
@@ -81,35 +81,40 @@ manpages:
 
 define build
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_$(1).py $(2)
 endef
 
 define build_topics
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_topics.py
 endef
 
 define build_keywords
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_keywords.py
 endef
 
 define build_graphical_index
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_graphical_index.py
 endef
 
 define build_manual_gallery
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_manual_gallery.py
 endef
@@ -117,13 +122,15 @@ endef
 define build_pso
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
+	GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	$(PYTHON) ./parser_standard_options.py -t "$(GRASS_HOME)/lib/gis/parser_standard_options.c" \
 	-f "grass" -o "$(HTMLDIR)/parser_standard_options.html" -p 'id="opts_table" class="scroolTable"'
 endef
 
 define build_pso_md
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
-	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" \
+	MDDIR="${MDDIR}" GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" \
+	GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./parser_standard_options.py -t "$(GRASS_HOME)/lib/gis/parser_standard_options.c" \
 	-f "grass" -o "$(MDDIR)/source/parser_standard_options.md"
@@ -136,11 +143,13 @@ $(MDDIR)/source/topics.md: $(ALL_MD)
 define build_class_graphical
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
+	GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_class_graphical.py html $(HTMLDIR)
 endef
 
 define build_class_graphical_md
 GISBASE="$(RUN_GISBASE)" ARCH="$(ARCH)" ARCH_DISTDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)" \
+	GRASS_DOCDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/html" GRASS_MKDOCSDIR="$(ARCH_DISTDIR)/docs/mkdocs" \
 	VERSION_NUMBER=$(GRASS_VERSION_NUMBER) VERSION_DATE=$(GRASS_VERSION_DATE) \
 	$(PYTHON) ./build_class_graphical.py md $(MDDIR)/source
 endef
diff --git a/man/build_html.py b/man/build_html.py
index 513ef0e2b6b..f2b44e848d3 100644
--- a/man/build_html.py
+++ b/man/build_html.py
@@ -432,6 +432,6 @@ def get_desc(cmd):
 
 ############################################################################
 
-man_dir = os.path.join(os.environ["ARCH_DISTDIR"], "docs", "html")
+man_dir = os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_DOCDIR"])
 
 ############################################################################
diff --git a/man/build_md.py b/man/build_md.py
index bb990c79016..b8e0d84e55d 100644
--- a/man/build_md.py
+++ b/man/build_md.py
@@ -94,6 +94,6 @@ def get_desc(cmd):
 
 ############################################################################
 
-man_dir = os.path.join(os.environ["ARCH_DISTDIR"], "docs", "mkdocs", "source")
+man_dir = os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_MKDOCSDIR"], "source")
 
 ############################################################################
diff --git a/man/build_rest.py b/man/build_rest.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 6cabe95e4e6..04efbe4f2ff
--- a/man/build_rest.py
+++ b/man/build_rest.py
@@ -360,8 +360,8 @@ def get_desc(cmd):
 
 arch_dist_dir = os.environ["ARCH_DISTDIR"]
 rest_dir = os.path.join(arch_dist_dir, "docs", "rest")
-gisbase = os.environ["GISBASE"]
-ver = read_file(os.path.join(gisbase, "etc", "VERSIONNUMBER"))
+grass_share_dir = os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"]
+ver = read_file(os.path.join(grass_share_dir, "etc", "VERSIONNUMBER"))
 try:
     grass_version = ver.split()[0].strip()
 except IndexError:
diff --git a/ps/ps.map/makeprocs.c b/ps/ps.map/makeprocs.c
index ae0bcf9f196..1ea82240dfc 100644
--- a/ps/ps.map/makeprocs.c
+++ b/ps/ps.map/makeprocs.c
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ int make_procs(void)
     level = (PS.level != 1) ? 2 : 1;
     fprintf(PS.fp, "/level %d def\n", level);
 
-    snprintf(filename, sizeof(filename), "%s/etc/paint/prolog.ps", G_gisbase());
+    snprintf(filename, sizeof(filename), "%s/etc/paint/prolog.ps",
+             G_share_dir());
 
     fp = fopen(filename, "r");
     if (!fp)
diff --git a/python/grass/CMakeLists.txt b/python/grass/CMakeLists.txt
index eeb0be1deb2..c2a1905ec5c 100644
--- a/python/grass/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/grass/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 set(PYDIRS
-    app
     benchmark
     exceptions
     grassdb
@@ -29,11 +28,25 @@ foreach(pydir ${PYDIRS})
   copy_python_files_in_subdir(${pydir} ${PYDIR_GRASS})
 endforeach()
 
+# 'app' directory handled separately, because of configuration of
+# resource_paths.py
+copy_python_files_in_subdir(app ${PYDIR_GRASS} EXCLUDE resource_paths.py)
+set(GRASS_PREFIX ${OUTDIR})
+configure_file(app/resource_paths.py.in
+  ${OUTDIR}/${GRASS_INSTALL_PYDIR}/grass/app/resource_paths.py @ONLY)
+set(GRASS_PREFIX ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX})
+configure_file(app/resource_paths.py.in
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/resource_paths.py @ONLY)
+install(
+  FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/resource_paths.py
+  DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${GRASS_INSTALL_PYDIR}/grass/app)
+unset(GRASS_PREFIX)
+
 configure_file(__init__.py ${OUTDIR}/${PYDIR_GRASS}/ COPYONLY)
 configure_file(script/setup.py ${OUTDIR}/${PYDIR_GRASS}/script/setup.py
                COPYONLY)
 
-set(pydir_targets ${PYDIRS})
+set(pydir_targets ${PYDIRS} app)
 list(TRANSFORM pydir_targets REPLACE "/" "_")
 list(TRANSFORM pydir_targets PREPEND "python_")
 
diff --git a/python/grass/__init__.py b/python/grass/__init__.py
index 32717194453..d6701140677 100644
--- a/python/grass/__init__.py
+++ b/python/grass/__init__.py
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ def _translate(text):
         try:
             import gettext  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
 
-            gisbase = os.environ["GISBASE"]
-            locale_dir = os.path.join(gisbase, "locale")
+            locale_dir = os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"]
             # With fallback set to True, not finding the translations files for
             # a language or domain results in a use of null translation, so this
             # does not raise an exception even if the locale settings is broken
diff --git a/python/grass/app/Makefile b/python/grass/app/Makefile
index eebbcef8f12..771100173c1 100644
--- a/python/grass/app/Makefile
+++ b/python/grass/app/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,23 @@ MODULES = \
 PYFILES := $(patsubst %,$(DSTDIR)/%.py,$(MODULES) __init__)
 PYCFILES := $(patsubst %,$(DSTDIR)/%.pyc,$(MODULES) __init__)
 
-default: $(PYFILES) $(PYCFILES)
+default: $(PYFILES) $(PYCFILES) $(DSTDIR)/resource_paths.py
+
+$(DSTDIR)/resource_paths.py: resource_paths.py.in
+	rm -f $@
+	sed \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PREFIX@#$(RUN_GISBASE)#' \
+	-e 's#@GISBASE@##' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_SHAREDIR@#share#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_LOCALEDIR@#locale#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_PYDIR@#etc/python#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_GUIWXDIR@#gui/wxpython#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR@#gui/scripts#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_GUIRESDIR@#gui#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_FONTSDIR@#fonts#' \
+	-e 's#@GRASS_ETCDIR@#etc#' \
+	$< > $@
+	chmod +x $@
 
 $(DSTDIR):
 	$(MKDIR) $@
diff --git a/python/grass/app/data.py b/python/grass/app/data.py
index d7d476fec0f..8c42aa7929d 100644
--- a/python/grass/app/data.py
+++ b/python/grass/app/data.py
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ def _get_startup_location_in_distribution():
 
     Returns startup location if found or None if nothing was found.
     """
-    gisbase = os.getenv("GISBASE")
-    startup_location = os.path.join(gisbase, "demolocation")
+    share_dir = os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR")
+    startup_location = os.path.join(share_dir, "demolocation")
 
     # Find out if startup location exists
     if os.path.exists(startup_location):
@@ -206,15 +206,16 @@ def acquire_mapset_lock(
     :param message_callback: callback to show messages when locked
     :param env: system environment variables
 
-    The function assumes the `GISBASE` variable is in the environment. The variable is
-    used to find the lock program. If *env* is not provided, `os.environ` is used.
+    The function assumes the `GRASS_SHAREDIR` variable is in the environment.
+    The variable is used to find the lock program. If *env* is not provided,
+    `os.environ` is used.
     """
     if process_id is None:
         process_id = os.getpid()
     if not env:
         env = os.environ
     lock_file = os.path.join(mapset_path, ".gislock")
-    locker_path = os.path.join(env["GISBASE"], "etc", "lock")
+    locker_path = os.path.join(env["GRASS_ETCDIR"], "lock")
     total_sleep = 0
     try_number = 0
     initial_sleep = min(initial_sleep, timeout)
diff --git a/python/grass/app/resource_paths.py.in b/python/grass/app/resource_paths.py.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..76020bc1ad4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/grass/app/resource_paths.py.in
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"""
+
+(C) 2025 by  and the GRASS Development Team
+
+This program is free software under the GNU General Public
+License (>=v2). Read the file COPYING that comes with GRASS
+for details.
+
+
+This is not a stable part of the API. Use at your own risk.
+
+The "@...@" variables are being substituted during build process
+
+"""
+
+import os
+
+GRASS_PREFIX = None
+GISBASE = None
+GRASS_SHAREDIR = None
+GRASS_LOCALEDIR = None
+GRASS_PYDIR = None
+GRASS_GUIWXDIR = None
+GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR = None
+GRASS_GUIRESDIR = None
+GRASS_FONTSDIR = None
+GRASS_ETCDIR = None
+
+def set_resource_paths():
+
+    global GRASS_PREFIX
+    global GISBASE
+    global GRASS_SHAREDIR
+    global GRASS_LOCALEDIR
+    global GRASS_PYDIR
+    global GRASS_GUIWXDIR
+    global GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR
+    global GRASS_GUIRESDIR
+    global GRASS_FONTSDIR
+    global GRASS_ETCDIR
+
+    GRASS_PREFIX = "@GRASS_PREFIX@"
+
+    if "GISBASE" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GISBASE")) > 0:
+        GISBASE = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GISBASE"])
+    else:
+        GISBASE = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GISBASE@"))
+        os.environ["GISBASE"] = GISBASE
+
+    if "GRASS_SHAREDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_SHAREDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_SHAREDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_SHAREDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"] = GRASS_SHAREDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_LOCALEDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_LOCALEDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_LOCALEDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_LOCALEDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_LOCALEDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_LOCALEDIR"] = GRASS_LOCALEDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_PYDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_PYDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_PYDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_PYDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_PYDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"] = GRASS_PYDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_GUIWXDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_GUIWXDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_GUIWXDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_GUIWXDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_GUIWXDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"] = GRASS_GUIWXDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR"] = GRASS_GUISCRIPTDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_GUIRESDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_GUIRESDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_GUIRESDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_GUIRESDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_GUIRESDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_GUIRESDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_GUIRESDIR"] = GRASS_GUIRESDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_FONTSDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_FONTSDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_FONTSDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_FONTSDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_FONTSDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_FONTSDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_FONTSDIR"] = GRASS_FONTSDIR
+
+    if "GRASS_ETCDIR" in os.environ and len(os.getenv("GRASS_ETCDIR")) > 0:
+        GRASS_ETCDIR = os.path.normpath(os.environ["GRASS_ETCDIR"])
+    else:
+        GRASS_ETCDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(GRASS_PREFIX, "@GRASS_ETCDIR@"))
+        os.environ["GRASS_ETCDIR"] = GRASS_ETCDIR
diff --git a/python/grass/docs/conf.py b/python/grass/docs/conf.py
index 9834d12bd5e..c50afc6376b 100644
--- a/python/grass/docs/conf.py
+++ b/python/grass/docs/conf.py
@@ -19,58 +19,40 @@
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
-if not os.getenv("GISBASE"):
-    sys.exit("GISBASE not defined")
-sys.path.insert(
-    0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass"))
-)
+if not os.getenv("GRASS_PYDIR"):
+    sys.exit("GRASS_PYDIR not defined")
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass")))
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "ctypes")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "ctypes")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "exceptions")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "exceptions")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "gunittest")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "gunittest")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "imaging")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "imaging")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "pydispatch")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "pydispatch")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "pygrass")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "pygrass")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "script")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "script")),
 )
 sys.path.insert(
     0,
-    os.path.abspath(
-        os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "python", "grass", "temporal")
-    ),
+    os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_PYDIR"], "grass", "temporal")),
 )
 
 from grass.script import core  # noqa: E402
diff --git a/python/grass/script/setup.py b/python/grass/script/setup.py
index 84c9b95fa36..4b6483802e3 100644
--- a/python/grass/script/setup.py
+++ b/python/grass/script/setup.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def write_gisrc(dbase, location, mapset):
 
 def set_gui_path():
     """Insert wxPython GRASS path to sys.path."""
-    gui_path = os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "gui", "wxpython")
+    gui_path = os.environ["GRASS_GUIWXDIR"]
     if gui_path and gui_path not in sys.path:
         sys.path.insert(0, gui_path)
 
diff --git a/python/grass/script/utils.py b/python/grass/script/utils.py
index 5a2d7d18b46..edd9ca759ca 100644
--- a/python/grass/script/utils.py
+++ b/python/grass/script/utils.py
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ def get_lib_path(modname, libname=None):
     from os import getenv
     from os.path import isdir, join, sep
 
-    if isdir(join(getenv("GISBASE"), "etc", modname)):
-        path = join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "etc", modname)
+    if isdir(join(getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR"), "etc", modname)):
+        path = join(os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR"), "etc", modname)
     elif (
         getenv("GRASS_ADDON_BASE")
         and libname
diff --git a/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py b/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
index 358e7fafdf9..e3d2b763b52 100644
--- a/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
+++ b/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ class SemanticLabelReader:
 
     def __init__(self):
         self._json_files = glob.glob(
-            os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "i.band.library", "*.json")
+            os.path.join(
+                os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"], "etc", "i.band.library", "*.json"
+            )
         )
         if not self._json_files:
             msg = "No semantic label definitions found"
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/core.py b/python/grass/temporal/core.py
index 9aa31e8e218..35a69f204e6 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/core.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/core.py
@@ -446,8 +446,8 @@ def get_tgis_database_string():
 
 
 def get_sql_template_path():
-    base = os.getenv("GISBASE")
-    base_etc = os.path.join(base, "etc")
+    grass_share_dir = os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR")
+    base_etc = os.path.join(grass_share_dir, "etc")
     return os.path.join(base_etc, "sql")
 
 
diff --git a/python/libgrass_interface_generator/CMakeLists.txt b/python/libgrass_interface_generator/CMakeLists.txt
index 2da6bfead17..74316a647ae 100644
--- a/python/libgrass_interface_generator/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/libgrass_interface_generator/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ set(vedit_INCHDRS ${PostgreSQL_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GDAL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 set(_c_flags ${CMAKE_C_FLAGS})
 if(APPLE AND CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT)
   string(APPEND _c_flags " --sysroot ${CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT}")
-  message("_c_flags")
 endif()
 
 foreach(module ${MODULES})
diff --git a/raster/r.colors/edit_colors.c b/raster/r.colors/edit_colors.c
index 6615854b581..5930da91d75 100644
--- a/raster/r.colors/edit_colors.c
+++ b/raster/r.colors/edit_colors.c
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ int edit_colors(int argc, char **argv, int type, const char *maptype,
             /* check if this style is a percentage style */
             /* don't bother with native dirsep as not needed for backwards
              * compatibility */
-            snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/colors/%s", G_gisbase(), style);
+            snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/%s", G_colors_dir(), style);
             rule_is_percent = check_percent_rule(path);
             do_scale = 1;
         }
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ int edit_colors(int argc, char **argv, int type, const char *maptype,
 
             /* don't bother with native dirsep as not needed for backwards
              * compatibility */
-            snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/colors/%s", G_gisbase(), rules);
+            snprintf(path, GPATH_MAX, "%s/%s", G_colors_dir(), rules);
 
             if (!Rast_load_fp_colors(&colors, path, min, max))
                 G_fatal_error(_("Unable to load rules file <%s>"), rules);
diff --git a/raster/r.watershed/front/main.c b/raster/r.watershed/front/main.c
index 2d7cd0283bc..6446cae8e8d 100644
--- a/raster/r.watershed/front/main.c
+++ b/raster/r.watershed/front/main.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     /* Build command line */
-    snprintf(command, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/r.watershed/%s", G_gisbase(),
+    snprintf(command, GPATH_MAX, "%s/etc/r.watershed/%s", G_share_dir(),
              flag_seg->answer ? "seg" : "ram");
     new_argv[new_argc++] = command;
 
diff --git a/raster/r.watershed/shed/com_line.c b/raster/r.watershed/shed/com_line.c
index 287ed7d800e..ab5898f4389 100644
--- a/raster/r.watershed/shed/com_line.c
+++ b/raster/r.watershed/shed/com_line.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ int com_line_Gwater(INPUT *input, OUTPUT *output)
         input->com_line_ram = (char *)G_calloc(400, sizeof(char));
         prog_name = G_store(RAM_NAME);
         snprintf(input->com_line_ram, (400 * sizeof(char)),
-                 "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_gisbase(), RAM_NAME);
+                 "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_share_dir(), RAM_NAME);
         fprintf(stderr,
                 "\nIf there is not enough ram for the fast mode (%s) to run,\n",
                 RAM_NAME);
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ int com_line_Gwater(INPUT *input, OUTPUT *output)
             input->slow = 1;
             input->com_line_seg = (char *)G_calloc(400, sizeof(char));
             snprintf(input->com_line_seg, (400, sizeof(char)),
-                     "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_gisbase(), SEG_NAME);
+                     "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_share_dir(), SEG_NAME);
         }
     }
     else {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ int com_line_Gwater(INPUT *input, OUTPUT *output)
         prog_name = G_store(SEG_NAME);
         input->com_line_seg = (char *)G_calloc(400, sizeof(char));
         snprintf(input->com_line_seg, (400, sizeof(char)),
-                 "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_gisbase(), SEG_NAME);
+                 "\"%s/etc/water/%s\"", G_share_dir(), SEG_NAME);
     }
 
     G_message(_("\nIf you hit <return> by itself for the next question, this"));
diff --git a/scripts/d.polar/d.polar.py b/scripts/d.polar/d.polar.py
index 2d5f6d50a7b..74da2207c37 100755
--- a/scripts/d.polar/d.polar.py
+++ b/scripts/d.polar/d.polar.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ def plot_eps(psout):
     ##########
     outf = open(psout, "w")
 
-    prolog = os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "d.polar", "ps_defs.eps")
+    prolog = os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"], "etc", "d.polar", "ps_defs.eps")
     inf = open(prolog)
     shutil.copyfileobj(inf, outf)
     inf.close()
diff --git a/scripts/db.test/db.test.py b/scripts/db.test/db.test.py
index c4ed7d99c54..eedb5565360 100755
--- a/scripts/db.test/db.test.py
+++ b/scripts/db.test/db.test.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def main():
     dbconn = grassdb.db_connection()
     gcore.message(_("Using DB driver: %s") % dbconn["driver"])
 
-    infile = os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "db.test", test_file)
+    infile = os.path.join(os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"], "etc", "db.test", test_file)
     inf = open(infile)
 
     while True:
diff --git a/scripts/g.search.modules/g.search.modules.py b/scripts/g.search.modules/g.search.modules.py
index 76a8c4d1f3e..f9ab0513148 100755
--- a/scripts/g.search.modules/g.search.modules.py
+++ b/scripts/g.search.modules/g.search.modules.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def _search_module(
             items.extend(addon_items)
 
     # add system-wide installed addons to modules list
-    filename_addons_s = os.path.join(os.getenv("GISBASE"), "modules.xml")
+    filename_addons_s = os.path.join(os.getenv("GRASS_SHAREDIR"), "modules.xml")
     if os.path.isfile(filename_addons_s):
         with open(filename_addons_s) as addon_menudata_file_s:
             addon_menudata_s = ET.parse(addon_menudata_file_s)
diff --git a/scripts/wxpyimgview/wxpyimgview.py b/scripts/wxpyimgview/wxpyimgview.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index ac848791c80..1bcae65740e
--- a/scripts/wxpyimgview/wxpyimgview.py
+++ b/scripts/wxpyimgview/wxpyimgview.py
@@ -45,6 +45,6 @@
     image = options["image"]
     percent = options["percent"]
     python = os.getenv("GRASS_PYTHON", "python")
-    gisbase = os.environ["GISBASE"]
-    script = os.path.join(gisbase, "etc", "wxpyimgview_gui.py")
+    grass_share_dir = os.environ["GRASS_SHAREDIR"]
+    script = os.path.join(grass_share_dir, "etc", "wxpyimgview_gui.py")
     os.execlp(python, script, script, image, percent)
diff --git a/utils/thumbnails.py b/utils/thumbnails.py
index c04c806bb13..8e670172919 100755
--- a/utils/thumbnails.py
+++ b/utils/thumbnails.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ def main():
 
     os.environ["GRASS_OVERWRITE"] = "1"
 
-    color_dir = os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "colors")
+    color_dir = os.environ["GRASS_COLORSDIR"]
     output_dir = sys.argv[1]
 
     if not os.path.exists(output_dir):
diff --git a/vector/v.label.sa/font.c b/vector/v.label.sa/font.c
index c99c7995d79..4fb684358d0 100644
--- a/vector/v.label.sa/font.c
+++ b/vector/v.label.sa/font.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct GFONT_CAP *find_font_from_freetypecap(const char *font)
                 capfile);
     }
     if (fp == NULL) {
-        snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/etc/fontcap", G_gisbase());
+        snprintf(file, sizeof(file), "%s/etc/fontcap", G_share_dir());
         if ((fp = fopen(file, "r")) == NULL)
             G_warning(_("%s: No font definition file"), file);
     }