undefined | Better HN

0 pointsJustSomeNobody10y ago0 comments

> Windows got so much flack over the years. It wasn't the prettiest but it worked and did what it said.

No. Just No. Windows loves to "forget" things. Things like Bluetooth devices. Or wifi devices. Windows likes to update your laptop for you when you're trying to close it ("Don't turn off your computer..." Wait, what? I have a plane to catch!). Windows scatters files all over the place! And that registry. UGH!

0 comments

vacri10y ago

> Windows scatters files all over the place!

Oh look, OSX has touched this usb stick, and vomited it's dotfiles onto it. Did it ever write to the stick? Nope, just need to throw those trash dotfiles onto every. single. thing. it. sees.

douche10y ago

Grr. You can always tell when somebody has been on the NAS or done any development work on a branch checked out of source control on a MacBook...

st3v3r10y ago

The development work thing isn't the fault of Apple, but rather the stupid developer who didn't pay attention to their commit.

1 more reply

jhasse10y ago

When closing your laptop Windows goes into standby. It should only install updates when shutting down and it tells you that beforehand. So it "did what it said" ;)

> Windows scatters files all over the place!

Just have a look into your Library folder on OS X. Also some programs don't use that, but create a dot folder in your home directory. Maybe I'm missing something though? I haven't used OS X much lately.

mikeash10y ago

Library is pretty well organized. Settings go in Library/Preferences, cache files in Library/Caches, persistent files that don't need to be exposed to the user go in Library/Application Support, and they're all organized by app name or bundle ID.

Apps which use dot folders in the home directory need to be smacked until they stop, but the OS can't really control where (non-sandboxed) apps put things, it can only establish conventions and encourage apps to follow them.

jhasse10y ago

I can't look it up right now, but I think it's called "Library Support" or something? Anyway: When I was writing a program for Mac OS I had to choose the name of the folder myself. Using the app name or bundle ID seems to be just a convention, I don't see the difference to %AppData% on Windows or ~/.config on Linux.

Also I remember a tool I used when I had a Macbook which helped you remove all the files when uninstalling something. I think it was this one: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/25276/appcleaner I remember some programs even putting files in other directories than Library Support.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

vacri10y ago

> Windows scatters files all over the place!

Oh look, OSX has touched this usb stick, and vomited it's dotfiles onto it. Did it ever write to the stick? Nope, just need to throw those trash dotfiles onto every. single. thing. it. sees.

douche10y ago

Grr. You can always tell when somebody has been on the NAS or done any development work on a branch checked out of source control on a MacBook...

st3v3r10y ago

The development work thing isn't the fault of Apple, but rather the stupid developer who didn't pay attention to their commit.

1 more reply

jhasse10y ago

When closing your laptop Windows goes into standby. It should only install updates when shutting down and it tells you that beforehand. So it "did what it said" ;)

> Windows scatters files all over the place!

mikeash10y ago

jhasse10y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse