[Pidgin] #4911: Pidgin does not adhere to the freedesktop.org XDG Base Directory Specification
Pidgin
trac at pidgin.im
Mon Feb 25 21:33:00 EST 2008
#4911: Pidgin does not adhere to the freedesktop.org XDG Base Directory
Specification
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Reporter: timnik | Owner: lschiere
Type: enhancement | Status: closed
Priority: minor | Milestone:
Component: unclassified | Version: 2.3.1
Resolution: wontfix | Keywords:
Pending: 0 |
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Comment (by rekkanoryo):
Replying to [comment:2 timnik]:
> Essentially, I would like to start with a clean install - but it's very
important to me to not loose my account information like usernames,
passwords and especially any history. This applies equally to all other
programs. The specification, from what I understood, aims to separate this
data, so all I would have to do is delete the $XDG_CONFIG_DIR and I would
be safe, as all the personal information that should never be lost is kept
in $KDG_DATA_DIR.
[[BR]]
There is a flaw in this argument--accounts are configuration data, thus
accounts.xml would be stored in $XDG_CONFIG_DIR with prefs.xml. Simply
wiping out $XDG_DATA_DIR would cause you to lose accounts. Restoring a
default configuration without losing acounts would require deletion of
only prefs.xml, as it does now. This standard serves no useful purpose in
this case.
[[BR]]
> You're right about the home folder, it's a big mess. If it were to be
separated into the two categories of user data and general config, then it
would most certainly be much tidier than before and help me and all the
other users to be able to keep the important non-replaceable data safe. I
would like to be able to revert my settings back to the default without
worrying about loosing anything.
[[BR]]
Everyone who trumpets this specification and its benefits completely
overlook one key factor--separating the configuration and data just
relocates the mess ''and'' doubles it by requiring not just one directory,
but two. While it may make $HOME "tidier" in the eyes of some, I would
rather have 100 dot directories directly in my $HOME than be required to
have a total of 202 directories in this specification's trees.
[[BR]]
> Another blogger explains the issues from his own perspective and gives
reasons for following the specification here:
http://ploum.frimouvy.org/?184-cleaning-user-preferences-keeping-user-data
>
> Don't you think there is a very real problem here?
[[BR]]
I do not. This blog post demonstrates nothing to me except that some
developers are criminally stupid in how they store data when they don't
follow the standard. It seems a pretty clear argument to me that
developers need to use common sense when storing data instead of tossing
random crap wherever they feel like.
--
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/4911#comment:3>
Pidgin <http://pidgin.im>
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