[OS X TeX] New TeX i-Package release in *EXPERIMENTAL* i-Directory

[Michael S. Hanson]

On Feb 27, 2005, at 11:36 AM, Gerben Wierda wrote:

> I think the HOME directory is a bad idea because it is often part of a 
> back up. Suddenly adding 25MB to such a back-up (compiled formats) is 
> generally not popular.
>
> OTOH, the i-Packages live in ~/Documents, are far larger. But these 
> can be thinned and still work.

	As you point out, the current placement of files by the i-Installer 
does complicate (or at least lengthen) one's back-up process.  Is there 
a reason why these files are not placed in, say, ~/Library/Application 
Support?  In addition to the practical issue above, from a 
philosophical perspective I think the only things that should be in 
~/Documents are things the user placed there explicitly.  (Yes, 
Microsoft and Adobe, I am glaring at you!  At least I have figured out 
how to make Stata behave....)


> It could be in ~/.texmf-config (which is close to what teTeX now has 
> by default), be in the HOME directory but still separate from 
> ~/Library/texmf

	I'm not crazy about the proliferation of 
~/.something_invisible_to_the_Finder/ directories either ('though I 
understand their Un*x heritage), and would find ~/Library/something 
preferable, FWIW.  Again, it often is easier to just backup ~/Library 
as needed than to additionally worry about tracking down "out-of-sight, 
out-of-mind" directories.  Just my (rapidly depreciating) $0.02.

                                         -- Mike

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