What is a "Document"?

[Randy Kramer]

On Tuesday 02 August 2005 06:39 am, James Richard Tyrer wrote:
> I think that we understand what the 'default working directory' means
> and that administration, configuration, binary executables, source
> files, and installation files don't go there.  But, clearly, we need
> something more concise.  I proposed "User Files" and "Home Folder" for
> the two classes of files..  If someone has better ideas, please state
> them!!  But, it doesn't help just to say that you don't like my
> suggestions.

My primary interest is separating my user/data files (docs, photo, music, ...) 
from my personal configuration files (/home/.<hidden files and directories>).   
(Part of my reasoning is so that I can back them up and restore them 
separately--if I want to, for example, reinstall but reconfigure everything, 
I'll wipe out my personal configuration files.)   

Some of the other files you mention already have clearly defined locations, 
iiuc (/etc, /usr, /bin...).  

Since I'm a wannabee developer, I'm also interested in where to locate source 
and binary files for my development projects, but I think that is neither 
with the config files nor the user/data files and doesn't have to come into 
this discussion.

I think "User Data Files" works for me (I'll consider that further), but "Home 
Folder" seems misleading in the context I'm bringing up (partly because of 
the existing use of /home for both user/data files and personal configuration 
files)--I'd prefer something that is more clearly different, like "Personal 
Configuration Files" (of course, shorter would be better, but don't have an 
immediate suggestion for shortening it).

On the other hand, on the "Configure Your Paths" screen (actually Configure 
Your Desktop -> System -> Paths on my Mandrake 10 system), it is more 
appropriate that the designations for the paths be accurate and 
understandable than that they be short).

Just my $.02.

Randy Kramer