Main Area and Open Discussion > General Software Discussion
Why don't all software files go into a single directory?
superboyac:
I'm not a programmer, so you guys have to help me here. How come when people write software, they don't just have all the files install into a single directory? It would help keep the computer organized and clean, and it would make it so much easier to keep track of installs and uninstalls. I love programs like ARSclip where you just unzip the contents to a directory and off you go. I don't understand why:
--So many tweaks need to made to the registry
--why we have to use the folders in "Documents and Settings" (man, talk about a mess)
--why dll files have to go to a common windows system directory
--what's the point of shared files in the "common files" folder
--why do certain companies insist of branding their name across multiple subfolders
(ie Adobe) c:\program files\adobe\acrobat\acrobat 8.0\acrobat.exe gimme a break
OK, that's enough.
Armando:
Just as a quick note : these questions seem somewhat related (but not completely...) to the User settings storage debate
superboyac:
nice thread, yes that answers some questions. I forgot about the different users per computer issue. I still hate all the folder though.
Darwin:
Amen, brother! I hear and share your pain. I still wistfully remember Win 3.11 and being able to move software between computers by copying the program's folder... Ah, there it is... I suspect that there is probably an element of early, and now holdover, "DRM" at work here.
Armando:
"Amen" here too, I must say...
IMO, most apps should be portable.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version