Program preference standard ?

[matthey]

What is the defining characteristic that determines whether an app should save prefs into its own dir (Work:Apps/JoseMegaProggy/JoseMegaProggy.prefs)
vs. saving in ENVARC: and ENV:
?

Generally true if the settings are system wide, don't have their own directory, or are multi-user. The Amiga User Interface Style Guide recommends searching...

1) Tool types or command line specified options (e.g. SETTINGS=path)
2) Settings found in program directory (TCL's recommendation)
3) Piru's explanation for ENV: and ENVARC:

If none of these can be found then default settings should be used.

The AUIFSG is well written and still useful today. It can be found online and is worth a look...

http://amigan.1emu.net/aw/style.zip

I have seen some programs save prefs into S: which I really don't like.

Not Amiga User Interface Style Guide compliant. I don't like it either.

[matthey]

I generally prefer progs to keep their stuff in their own PROGDIR: because having thousands of files in ENVARC: slows down the booting process.  Of course if a prog has a real need to store stuff in ENVARC: then I am not against it.

I generally prefer PROGDIR: for settings also but HappyENV is the answer to slow booting and wasted memory for settings.

http://aminet.net/util/sys/envhandler.lha