this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2024
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    To be honest, it is quite complicated now as well with all of the proprietary software (sh.itjust.works)
    submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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    [–] [email protected] 102 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (5 children)

    This is the "appdata" folder, this is where all the application's data goes.

    So whats the "Programs" folder then?

    This is also where the application's data and files go.

    But I thought thats the "Programs x86" folder.

    This is also where the application's data and files go.

    Ok whats "Program Files" then?

    This is also where the application's data and files go.

    So my config file is in either one if those 4?

    No thats in the "Documents" folder, obviously.

    Windows program data file structure has always been the wild west.

    [–] [email protected] 63 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Don’t forget about the hidden ProgramData directory at the root of the file system. Ableton Live likes to install there for some ungodly reason.

    [–] [email protected] 33 points 6 months ago

    Selects separate drive for install

    Adobe: "Imma, pretend I didn't see that"

    [–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

    Always remember, C:\ProgramData is the eqivalent of /etc in Linux. If they don't know where to put/hide shit, but needs admin priviliges to edit and users can only read, you put it in C:\ProgramData.

    [–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

    I think programdata is closer to /usr/lib or maybe /var/lib.

    You almost never see config files in programdata.

    [–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    Config files that are meant to be used as sane defaults for new user accounts, yes. Config files that are meant to be manually edited, no.

    Besides, there are a lot of examples of configs that are saved in ProgramData, like, let's say, registration info for proprietery programs (of course, this info needs to be shared amongst users, so your safest bet is ProgramData). Hidden by default, makes it perfect for storing everything the program is trying to hide from the user.

    [–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

    Don't forget that there's a hidden system junction at C:\ProgramData\Application Data that points to C:\ProgramData. Because everyone loves loops in their filesystem. Of course C:\Users\All Users is also a junction to C:\ProgramData. This kills updatedb in WSL.

    [–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago

    Don't forget %USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/Programs, where some programs get installed to because the developer doesn't want to make it a system wide installation.

    [–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    Yeah, the Documents config file/dir pisses me off the most as well!

    [–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    Game save data? No, my documents.
    Application config files? Again, my documents.
    Temporary documents I don't care about keeping? Downloads, duh.
    My actual documents? Desktop.
    My desktop? Turned icons off because it was too messy.

    Just another day using Windows...

    [–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    I have to say I love having no desktop. Something about watching my coworkers become dependent on it is neurotic.

    [–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

    Agreed. It's much nicer to see your wallpaper than a mess of mismatched icons that may need to be occasionally clicked.

    [–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    Same here. I don't need icons, just press Win and type in the program. I just gotta pray for Windows to not open Edge and search in Bing.

    [–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    If you're using Windows, you can get a much better experience by ditching the Microsoft start menu entirely.

    Everything Search to index files and Flow Launcher for searching files and applications. You can even make it open when you press the windows key.

    Or if you still want a start menu, Start11 is worth paying for to get away from Microsoft's ad-ridden crapware they call the start menu. It even supports using Everything for showing file results.

    [–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

    Flow Launcher seems pretty cool. I'll try it out. Thanks!

    [–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

    System wide config for an application? Lets put that under C:\users*?????

    [–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

    And Linux isn't? There's definitely not a central location either.

    [–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

    Agreed, but the number of places where to search for the config is not as big as in Windows. And there is the fact that most software is open source, so you could always check where the application saves it's data.