this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2024
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    Dual booters be like (sh.itjust.works)
    submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/linuxmemes
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    [–] takeheart 20 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    So what's the difference?

    My intuition is that directory is the older term and refers to something existing on the file system while folder can 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'.

    [–] ConstantPain 13 points 9 months ago

    None.

    [–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    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.

    [–] takeheart 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    Aha, to me it's an apt metaphors as files go into folders and it fits with the whole desktop analogy.

    [–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    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.

    [–] takeheart 3 points 9 months ago

    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.

    [–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    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)

    [–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    folders are only considered files in linux, in windows, its a mess

    [–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

    something about not unix operating systems not being valid

    [–] dohpaz42 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    obligatory mansplaining that Linux is not Unix

    [–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

    obligatory its a Unix system, I know this

    [–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

    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.

    [–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

    And on a CLI a directory is just a list of other files.