So, a few years back, when a good friend of mine tried out Linux mint, one of the main reasons he didn’t stick with it wasn’t even compatibility or anything (although he probably would have switched to a rolling release as someone who values cutting edge updates). But what ultimately made him return to Windows was something, I have been scratching my head on how to best handle it: The file system structure ultimately being too much of a change.
Now, of course, if you are used to it, I wouldn’t really call it better or worse - definitely more suited to what Linux ultimately is. But stuff like, “Where are the save games of my paradox games? Why is so much stuff in my user directory? Why is there no unified directoy for all the stuff I installed (including everything they use), like Program Files, but everything is scattered all around into different directories? Why was the path to my save games hidden in a dotfile-folder?” were examples of hurdles, where the current answer seems to be “you just have to get used to it”.
Now, I am not pleading to change the standard, there’s good reasons for it. But are there good transitioning guides from Windows to Linux, that do a good job at explaining the structure of the file system? Because I remember, myself, only really getting used to it months into my Linux journey all those years ago.
Windows: ok, where files of program N? Let’s check:
C:/Program files? Or Program files (x86)?
Why do I happen to see same program in both?
Ah, Documents/N?
Maybe. But empty
C:/AppData/(or whatever that is called)…fucking_hell?
With fucking invisible folders? Really?
As to the actual question, I remember just googling the standard, got some idea back then. Now found https://linuxhandbook.com/linux-directory-structure/ should be good enough (I guess, being used to reading software docs does change views on what is good/bad and also builds tolerance to detailed descriptions)
Why was the path to my save games hidden in a dotfile-folder?
It isn’t any better on Windows, but oh boy does this one piss me off.
~/.config/mygame — wtf, no it's not config
~/mygame — fuck off, the home folder is mine
~/.local/share/mygame — better, I guess?~/.cache/mygame — absolutely not here
~/.steam/.../MyGame — still not great, but at least it's self contained
Yeah, that one really isn’t Linux’s fault either, and both on Linux and Windows, it’s always “exciting” to see which dev used which wild, new scheme for their config/save files.
I’d LOVE a resource like that! I’m sure it exists but I never found it, and it is a silly thing to be hung up on but I just didn’t properly understand the folder structure. I’ve still used Linux plenty but I’m dragging my feet on using it as a daily driver, but I’m VERY close to making the jump.
I get this. If I wasn’t already familiar and comfortable with OSX, I wouldn’t have been nearly as confident switching over and knowing how to tweak things.
Both NYC and LA have good ramen places. Doesn’t mean I’m only a hurry to get on the 405 in a new car when I know the MTA map like the back of my hand.
So, a few years back, when a good friend of mine tried out Linux mint, one of the main reasons he didn’t stick with it wasn’t even compatibility or anything (although he probably would have switched to a rolling release as someone who values cutting edge updates). But what ultimately made him return to Windows was something, I have been scratching my head on how to best handle it: The file system structure ultimately being too much of a change.
Now, of course, if you are used to it, I wouldn’t really call it better or worse - definitely more suited to what Linux ultimately is. But stuff like, “Where are the save games of my paradox games? Why is so much stuff in my user directory? Why is there no unified directoy for all the stuff I installed (including everything they use), like Program Files, but everything is scattered all around into different directories? Why was the path to my save games hidden in a dotfile-folder?” were examples of hurdles, where the current answer seems to be “you just have to get used to it”.
Now, I am not pleading to change the standard, there’s good reasons for it. But are there good transitioning guides from Windows to Linux, that do a good job at explaining the structure of the file system? Because I remember, myself, only really getting used to it months into my Linux journey all those years ago.
Ehm, your friend should really hold ma beer.
Windows: ok, where files of program N? Let’s check: C:/Program files? Or Program files (x86)? Why do I happen to see same program in both?
Ah, Documents/N? Maybe. But empty
C:/AppData/(or whatever that is called)…fucking_hell? With fucking invisible folders? Really?
As to the actual question, I remember just googling the standard, got some idea back then. Now found https://linuxhandbook.com/linux-directory-structure/ should be good enough (I guess, being used to reading software docs does change views on what is good/bad and also builds tolerance to detailed descriptions)
It isn’t any better on Windows, but oh boy does this one piss me off.
~/.config/mygame — wtf, no it's not config ~/mygame — fuck off, the home folder is mine ~/.local/share/mygame — better, I guess? ~/.cache/mygame — absolutely not here ~/.steam/.../MyGame — still not great, but at least it's self containedYeah, that one really isn’t Linux’s fault either, and both on Linux and Windows, it’s always “exciting” to see which dev used which wild, new scheme for their config/save files.
I’d LOVE a resource like that! I’m sure it exists but I never found it, and it is a silly thing to be hung up on but I just didn’t properly understand the folder structure. I’ve still used Linux plenty but I’m dragging my feet on using it as a daily driver, but I’m VERY close to making the jump.
I get this. If I wasn’t already familiar and comfortable with OSX, I wouldn’t have been nearly as confident switching over and knowing how to tweak things.
Both NYC and LA have good ramen places. Doesn’t mean I’m only a hurry to get on the 405 in a new car when I know the MTA map like the back of my hand.