Last Updated: 2024-11-21

Unix recommends specific directories for placing certain types of files:

A. Cache files

• use $XDG_CACHE_HOME for storing persistent cache files (works with unprivileged processes)

Aside: XDG is "X Desktop Group" - a set of standards. It seems to be used in non-desktop linux installs too.

B. Downloaded file

• use $XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR for storing persistent downloaded files (works with unprivileged processes)

C. Temporary files

• use $TMPDIR instead of /tmp (etc.) since this gives more flexibility to systems that choose to modify where TMP is.

Resources

• http://0pointer.net/blog/projects/tmp.html