Bug 32342

Summary:	"Update standard folders" should add language links to folders, not rename them
Product:	xdg-user-dirs	Reporter:	Papou <a_pirard>
Component:	General	Assignee:	Alexander Larsson <alexl>
Status:	RESOLVED MOVED	QA Contact:
Severity:	normal
Priority:	medium	CC:	a_pirard, tim.miao, vovik-wfa
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	All
OS:	All
Whiteboard:
i915 platform:		i915 features:

Description Papou 2010-12-12 13:14:43 UTC

This was originally reported in:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xdg-user-dirs/+bug/556933
(which, I'm afraid, someone turned into a mess)

xdg-user-dirs tries to rename standard folders
(e.g. Desktop to Bureau (French), among other languages and folders).

Renaming standard folders is incorrect because :
- there may exist references to their files that would become invalid if renamed
- if such files exist, xdg-user-dirs quite rightly does not rename the folder but just creates the new name
- but then the user's files seem to disappear
- and, for the same reason, the user cannot move his files harmlessly
- similarly, there may be references to the folder itself, even if empty
- and in fact, the Internet is full of references to ~/Desktop (which introducing xdg-user-dirs made invalid)
(that's why those folders are called "standard": their names mustn't change)

The correct way is obviously:
- to create symbolic links such as Bureau -> Desktop (instead of renaming)
- to never remove the symbolic link afterwards (in case references have been made to it)

Temporary workaround: it almost already works: this is a proof of concept:
If, before xdg-user-dirs comes to play,
- one creates the symbolic link (Bureau -> Desktop)
- one makes sure to keep the folder (Desktop) nonempty (e.g. with hidden file),
then xdg-user-dirs will not modify any name and the system will work superbly.

Comment 1 Papou 2010-12-12 13:43:02 UTC

*** Bug 15765 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 2 Papou 2010-12-14 01:00:56 UTC

PLEASE carefully read Bug 15765 for a description by Tim Miao of the problem in practical terms.

Comment 3 Vladimir 2015-03-12 14:31:51 UTC

I've just stumbled upon this: http://henrich-on-debian.blogspot.com/2015/03/localized-directory-name-is-harmful.html
And that reminded me of the darn whitespace in russian Desktop localization.
Links should be the answer!
I think, it is time to revive this bug.

Comment 4 GitLab Migration User 2018-10-15 07:55:56 UTC

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