Hacker News Reader

Xdg isnt just config. Using .config (xdg config) on Mac is super weird.

Xdg is also, .cache (xdg cache dir) for data that can be cleared on reboot allowing you to use tempfs for it (of course you can't because a bunch of shit uses it as a persistent cache for things they should be putting in .local/share/. (Xdg data dir).

This whole mess is so utterly fucked I gave up caring and just let the mess be.

View on HN

> Using .config (xdg config) on Mac is super weird.

Why? Using it makes macOS more similar to Linux, which I think is a good thing. It surely makes it easier to share configuration files between Macs and Linux machines.

Honestly, I don't see a single upside to using macOS's specific directories over .config/.cache/.local.

There are operating system processes in place to help keep `~/Library/Caches` smaller (or at least somewhat constrained). They are not there for `~/.cache`.

I don't see anything saying that clearing ~/.cache on every boot is expected behavior. I see lots of real world behavior of using ~/.cache as a multi-gigabyte download cache you would not want to lose regularly.

Cache is for user specific, non essential data.

I'd prefer a multigigabyte download went in state or data dirs if you don't want to lose it regularly.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com