Well dir
So what’s the difference?
My intuition is that
directoryis the older term and refers to something existing on the file system whilefoldercan be that but also includes “virtual folders” that group together different files from across the file system like when photo manager shows you categories like ‘recently viewed’ or ‘taken in 2023’.Directory is the older term, but when they started making computers user friendly they needed a friendlier word for it. Folders make sense because people understand putting files in folders in real life.
Aha, to me it’s an apt metaphors as files go into folders and it fits with the whole desktop analogy.
Exactly, except like all computer metaphors they break down when you get into the details. I can’t put a document in more than one folder and update them at the same time IRL like I can do with a symlink.
You bring up a pretty good point. Whenever I have a personal document that could go into multiple categories (eg a travel insurance certificate can go into travel, insurance, or finance folder) I place it in all 3 at once with hard links. What’s more is that if I intuitively first search for a document in place A but it’s actually in place B I simply place a link in A for the next time.
Before I learned a bit about file systems I didn’t even conceive of such a thing being possible; precisely because the folder metaphor had imprinted upon me the physical world constraint that things can only be in a single place at once.
Uhhh directories are files where other files are stored in a computer, folders are pieces of paper used to store pieces of paper (or a file used to store another files in a computer)
folders are only considered files in linux, in windows, its a mess
something about not unix operating systems not being valid
obligatory mansplaining that Linux is not Unix
obligatory its a Unix system, I know this
A directory outside of computing is simply a list of items with a common characteristic. A list of names at an apartment building for example.
And on a CLI a directory is just a list of other files.
None.
In our forum you just give the coordinates in your woven core memory…
Funny!!! I love Harry potter and Hagrid is so sweet!
I typically call them folders when going through the GUI and directories when using CLI.
To move a folder (gui), you just do it. To move a directory (cli) you have to implicitly say you want the contents too.
I never realized I subconsciously did this until your pointing it out. Huh. Thanks for that insight I suppose, haha
Exactly my thoughts.
well it sorta just makes sense, the gui presents it as a folder, you can move things around in it like a folder, conceptually it presents them in a way to make you think they are physical things stored in a physical folder/box. cli it really just feels like you are using a string of characters indicating the desired file, it feels more like a directory that way, even if it always really is that way, just showcased differently in the gui.
brain doing brainy things, strings/lines vs pictures/labels
Big Brother approves
This is a fact.
it’s directory, if you refer to it in a cli context and folder if you refer to it in a gui context
I switched to Linux only about a year ago. I frequently called them directories even in Windows. I sometimes use folder too, but usually directory I think.
Oddly enough this made me realise I solely use directory for windows, I think cause windows uses dir instead of ls and cd is used in both lmao
Directory means a listing. You are referring to the list of names of some items.
I’m usually working with folders that actually contain files and other folders. It’s often closed, so the content is not shown. A folder is a container.
Wikipedia clarifies this difference.
A telephone directory does not contain telephones.
a file directory doesent contain anything but adresses aswell
Go down that path and it’s all binary. But users deal with metaphors. And containers are very useful.
kill this heathen!
Burn the witch!
I only call them by inode. Scoffs
inodes can be files or directories though.
“Everything is a file.”
I just learned what an inode is last week so I’m doing my best here.
meh. folder is 2 syllables, directory is like 4. I’m lazy. If someone gave me a clear one syllable alternative that others would know what I meant (even if while cringing), i’d probably start using that instead. I’ve tried just “dir”, but no one ever knows wtf i’m saying.
I just use “dir” about 90% of the time.
Yep, while this meme is funny and in jest. If someone actually seriously gave me shit for saying “folder” or “directory” I would have to ask them what Stallman’s toe nails actually taste like. Because that is up there with his level of being rigid about something that I just can’t stand.
I do agree, but I do double check how I wrote and what I wrote when replying on GitHub 😁.
I like how you put things.
While conversing with Linux users, they should know what dir means… I mean, even if they don’t use the terminal that often, dir is often used in GUIs as well in Linux.
I might should clarify that when using “dir” verbally no one knows what I’m saying, but maybe how I pronounce it in my head isn’t how everyone else does, lol. In text it’s plenty clear, imo.
Oh, yeah, in that case it does make sense 😁.
theyrethesamepicture.jpg
No one cares
As long as you don’t call it a path.
Always have, and always will! /waves old man cane around in a threatening manner
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Isn’t that what a hierarchical string of them are called?
Idk about hierarchy but
PATHis a thing and the proper terminology is filepath, so the word path becomes ambiguated as it could be used to refer to either. Hence why I say it is bad practice to use it as a primary reference in conversation. Otherwise you’ll get interns and users modifying theirPATHfor no damn reason and wondering why nothing works.
You make and use folders
I make directories and call them folders anyway
We are not the same
I mix and match. I used to have an Amiga back in the day, and they were called directories there. As such, most of my parlance is from those days. But most of my work life has been on Windows. So, folder has sneaked into everyday usage.
