Even after all these years firefox keeps using mozilla hidden directory instead of XDG base directories. For how long will this continue?

Watch https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=259356 for updates to this request.

~/.mozilla/firefox/<profile> is a mish-mash of data, config, and cache. It’s not simple to unravel that. Beyond that, it would be a breaking change, and that requires more caution.

credit: u/yo_99 on Reddit.

original link: https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/vkgk78/why_does_firefox_keeps_using_mozilla_directory/

  • Zozano
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    11 months ago

    Reminds me of when Windows made a designated folder for game saves.

    And then every dev decided to keep placing saves in the Documents folder or AppData folder

      • Zozano
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        11 months ago

        I wonder how many people work with 3d images as opposed to gaming. The only 3d objects I have exist within reality.

        • Paige (she/her)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          11 months ago

          From what I understand, when the directory was added VR, MR, and 3d printing were just becoming more main stream. It is easy to see why some at Microsoft believed that an easy to use modeling applications like Microsoft 3d Builder would be as essential as Microsoft Paint. With hindsight, we can see that 3d printing is still too complicated and not useful enough for the average computer user and most VR users are either content to use models from others or to use more complicated tools like Blender.

    • WhoRoger@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      The fun part is, at least since Win95, games were supposed to store their data in the My documents directory. The only game I remember actually going with this was Max Payne, everyone else was just dumping everything in the directory with the exe.

      Then Vista came out and those who cared, were scrambling to update their games. The rest just went - shrug eh, run in compatibility mode.

    • deleted@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I thought this was the best thing they did. Each user would have their documents (let call it your stuff) separate from another user.

      If you share a PC with someone then you would know how this was a good thing.

      Even if you don’t share your PC with anyone, you don’t want your nephew to miss up your saves when he comes in the summer and his mom wants you to allow him to play.

      • sudotstar@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        Windows’s dedicated Saved Gamed folder is within the same user-specific directories that Documents and AppData are in, and would still allow for game saves to be user-specific.

      • Zozano
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        11 months ago

        I think maybe you misunderstand me.

        In Windows 10 and 11, inside each user folder was a folder specifically meant for game saves.

        The only devs I’ve seen use it are CD Project Red.

        • deleted@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Ooh I see. I thought you’re against it. I know how the appdata folder works.

          I saw OP complaining that firefox is using .mozilla and I thought he wanted data to be saved at program files/firefox.

          Then when I read your comment I thought that you’re complaining why devs are using user folder or appdata instead of program files/.

          • Zozano
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            11 months ago

            Well, the user is complaining about where it’s installed on Linux, not Windows.

            It’s in the home directory. On Linux, most applications split data between a cache, config and local directories. But for Firefox everything is in one.

            Personally, I don’t mind it. It makes transferring my Firefox setup between distros easy.