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+---
+title: mac xdg
+permalink: mac-xdg
+date: 2025-01-13T23:11:42-08:00
+tags: mac
+---
+
+I like a tidy computer. I [don't have a desktop](./remove-mac-desktop/) and I
+[organize my config files](https://github.com/leebyron/dotfiles) within XDG
+base directories.
+
+XDG base directories defines a [standard][xdg-base-dirs-standard] way to layout
+a user directory that's portable across environments and defines a set of
+environment variables that many programs will look for to determine where they
+read and write files. This is particularly nice for keeping your `~` home
+directory from becoming littered with various dot-file config scripts.
+
+This is a growing standard on Linux but not the default on macOS. However it's
+easy to set up!
+
+Create (with `sudo`) the file `/etc/zshenv`[^or-alternatives] (or `~/.zshenv`
+for your user only) with the following contents:
+
+```sh
+# Define XDG Base directory environment variables
+export XDG_BIN_HOME="$HOME/.local/bin"
+export XDG_CACHE_HOME="$HOME/Library/Caches"
+export XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$HOME/.config"
+export XDG_DATA_HOME="$HOME/.local/share"
+export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR="/tmp/$USER"
+export XDG_STATE_HOME="$HOME/.local/state"
+export PATH="$XDG_BIN_HOME:$PATH"
+
+# Define paths for common programs not using XDG
+export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh"
+export GNUPGHOME="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnupg"
+export NPM_CONFIG_CACHE="$XDG_CACHE_HOME/npm"
+export NPM_CONFIG_TMP="$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/npm"
+export NPM_CONFIG_USERCONFIG="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/npm/config"
+```
+
+Many programs will now automatically start using these directories, and
+existing config files can be moved into the `~/.cache/{program}/` folders.
+
+If you're writing distributing your own program which defines local
+configuration files, please do check if `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` is set and if so
+prefer using XDG paths for your config files.
+
+[^or-alternatives]: Assuming you are using the default zsh as your shell. If
+using a different shell then sub in the equivalent environment config file.