Re: [boost] [filesystem] home_directory_path

Subject: Re: [boost] [filesystem] home_directory_path
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-10-20 09:45:16

Alexander Churanov wrote:
> 2010/10/20 Stewart, Robert <Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden]>:
> > The latter is nearly true as Windows is only barely multi-user.
>
> Robert, this is surprising. What versions of Windows are to your
> opinion not multi-user? I think it is worth to examine XP/Vista/7
> instead of 98/Me, which are dead.

Common knowledge.  Windows is a single user system with multi-user functionality overlaid.  All users have full access to C:\.

> > it is poor practice to overpopulate one's home directory
>
> I read this for the first time. Could you, please, provide some links?
> The organization of user-generated files in home directory is
> up to the user.

I have no links.  I'm sure I could find some if I tried, but this is wisdom passed down from others years past and from my own decades of experience.  No directory should be overpopulated, as a rule, because directory searches take increasingly long as the number of files grow (though some filesystems are less hampered than others) and because directory listings become unwieldy to grok visually.  The home directory is more important to not over-populate because it is already the location of dot files and all subdirectories leading to other content.  Adding user-generated content to the necessary content makes it harder to use as the jump point to all user content, whether user-generated or locally installed applications/libraries.

I hope these points help to convince you that Filesystem should not return $HOME by default.  It is better to leave that decision to the client code and a convenience default will encourage use of that default, so it ought not to be a default that leads to poor practice.

_____
Rob Stewart                           robert.stewart_at_[hidden]
Software Engineer, Core Software      using std::disclaimer;
Susquehanna International Group, LLP  http://www.sig.com

IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email and/or its attachments is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by reply and immediately delete this message and all its attachments. Any review, use, reproduction, disclosure or dissemination of this message or any attachment by an unintended recipient is strictly prohibited. Neither this message nor any attachment is intended as or should be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument. Neither the sender, his or her employer nor any of their respective affiliates makes any warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of any of the information contained herein or that this message or any of its attachments is free of viruses.