Re: Defaults

[Alex Perez]

Quentin Mathé wrote:

> Le 11 oct. 04, à 17:56, Alex Perez a écrit :
>
> > Stefan Urbanek wrote:
> >
> > > Hi,
> > > As I am moving from one computer to another I am experiencing some
> > > inconveniences. Is there any reason why is GNUstep defaults database
> > > hidden file? This prevents normal user with default file-manager
> > > settings to move his defaults, as they are not visible.
> > > Another thing is: it would be better to store defaults in one file per
> > > domain - this will allow to copy defaults from one machine to other,
> > > which is not quite possible now (it is not very easy and not doable by
> > > standard user).
> >
> >
> > Others have previously suggested one file per application, which is 
> > what is done under OS X, AFAICT.
>
>
> I think it would be a better choice than the current one.
>
> > > Also i would suggest to use Preferences, Settings or Configuration
> > > directory name instead of 'Defaults', but that is not so important.
> >
> >
> > Well, under OS X, Apple's decided to put the "global" per-user plist 
> > in ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist, the GNUstep 
> > equivalent is almost always ~/Library/Preferences . I think the 
> > "Defaults" name is a poor naming choice because it is almost 
> > universally accepted what "Preferences" means within the context of 
> > computer programs, but almost no-one outside of a few next, apple, 
> > and GNUstep-heads know what our definition of "defaults" is.
> >
> > I propose that ~/GNUstep/Defaults be moved to 
> > ~/GNUstep/Library/Preferences. Stefan, based on what you've said, I 
> > think you'd think this was a good idea, but I don't know how other 
> > GNUstep core developers feel (besides the below-mentioned Alexander M.)
>
>
> I have no real opinion on this issue, especially because only 
> relatively experienced users delete defaults/preferences files. In 
> this case, if such user knows he should do it, he will know where the 
> files to remove are located whatever the parent folder's name is… 

That's not why I proposed this change, however.

If you want to make $GNUSTEP_USER_DIR=~, as is done under OS X currently 
you have to have a ~/Defaults folder.  This is wrong, and there's really 
no reason why Defaults should live outside of wherever the User Library 
folder happens to be (be it ~/Library or ~/GNUstep/Library)