5 ms·

Vista started enforcing the file system conventions people were supposed to follow all along. Things like, don't write config files to the root of C: or dump te

by jdofaz 7y ago

Vista started enforcing the file system conventions people were supposed to follow all along. Things like, don't write config files to the root of C: or dump temp files in C:\Windows The prompts went away because the apps were fixed. Thanks to the pain Vista went through apps can run without Administrator rights and most apps were ready for Windows 7.

PhasmaFelis 7y ago
> Things like, don't write config files to the root of C: or dump temp files in C:\Windows Now half the devs out there write config files to fucking Documents for some reason...
- biggestdecision 7y ago
  Because Windows hides appdata from users, but many users often want to edit configs. So the devs stick them in Documents.
  - brnt 7y ago
    Is that the reason really? dot-dirs are also hidden by default, yet it is assumed anyone looking for config files knows they lurk beyond the period.
  - PhasmaFelis 7y ago
    That's a terrible reason, if true. Anyone savvy enough to want to edit config files can figure out how to enable Show Hidden Files or just browse to %APPDATA% in minutes. I don't use my Documents folder anymore because it's too hard to find actual documents among the dozens and dozens of misplaced config folders.
    - ryandrake 7y ago
      Windows application developers in general have a long track record of disregard for the user’s filesystem and other visible shared resources. Let them modify the user’s start menu and they dump a folder there with their company's brand name there and fill it with crap. Let them populate the Add/Remove Programs list and they’ll fill it with all kinds of incomprehensible stuff (even MS itself is horrible here, polluting it with MSVC Runtime This, and SQL Server That...) It should be no surprise that developers choose to dump non-documents into the user’s Documents folder.
      - h1d 7y ago
        Adobe is the only one who does this crap in macOS on my system. They put 3 folders in Applications and on top of that put some more in Utilities. I see like 7 icons just for 1 app (2 if you count the subscription manager app). Their attitude being the monopoly is just annoying.
    - crooked-v 7y ago
      Also all the games that now dump save files there.
      - romwell 7y ago
        Well, that I can understand. Save files are documents, as far as I am concerned (I used to back them up Just In Case while playing). For RNG/permadeath games like Don't Starve, the save file better be safe.
  - geraldcombs 7y ago
    We addressed this by adding a "Folders" tab to our About box which lists configuration, plugin, and other paths relevant to the application. Users can open a folder by double-clicking on it.
  - saagarjha 7y ago
    ~/Library is normally hidden too, but that doesn't stop NSUserDefaults from sticking things there.

by jdofaz 7y ago

PhasmaFelis 7y ago

> Things like, don't write config files to the root of C: or dump temp files in C:\Windows Now half the devs out there write config files to fucking Documents for some reason...

biggestdecision 7y ago
Because Windows hides appdata from users, but many users often want to edit configs. So the devs stick them in Documents.
- brnt 7y ago
  Is that the reason really? dot-dirs are also hidden by default, yet it is assumed anyone looking for config files knows they lurk beyond the period.
- PhasmaFelis 7y ago
  That's a terrible reason, if true. Anyone savvy enough to want to edit config files can figure out how to enable Show Hidden Files or just browse to %APPDATA% in minutes. I don't use my Documents folder anymore because it's too hard to find actual documents among the dozens and dozens of misplaced config folders.
  - ryandrake 7y ago
    Windows application developers in general have a long track record of disregard for the user’s filesystem and other visible shared resources. Let them modify the user’s start menu and they dump a folder there with their company's brand name there and fill it with crap. Let them populate the Add/Remove Programs list and they’ll fill it with all kinds of incomprehensible stuff (even MS itself is horrible here, polluting it with MSVC Runtime This, and SQL Server That...) It should be no surprise that developers choose to dump non-documents into the user’s Documents folder.
    - h1d 7y ago
      Adobe is the only one who does this crap in macOS on my system. They put 3 folders in Applications and on top of that put some more in Utilities. I see like 7 icons just for 1 app (2 if you count the subscription manager app). Their attitude being the monopoly is just annoying.
  - crooked-v 7y ago
    Also all the games that now dump save files there.
    - romwell 7y ago
      Well, that I can understand. Save files are documents, as far as I am concerned (I used to back them up Just In Case while playing). For RNG/permadeath games like Don't Starve, the save file better be safe.
- geraldcombs 7y ago
  We addressed this by adding a "Folders" tab to our About box which lists configuration, plugin, and other paths relevant to the application. Users can open a folder by double-clicking on it.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  ~/Library is normally hidden too, but that doesn't stop NSUserDefaults from sticking things there.