XWin design suggestion

[Harold L Hunt II]

Biju,

I think we all forgot about one option: Why don't we use the interface 
to (for example) C:\Documents and Settings\User_Foo\Application 
Data\CygwinXFree86\... ?  Is there such an interface or is it largely 
just an issue of getting the proper directory to write your config files to?

I believe that their may be an actual interface to that directory in 
Windows 2000 and later, while Windows 95/98/Me might still need some 
hand-coding.  Has anyone used this before?  I know that Mozilla stores 
its settings in a directory under either Application Data or 
User_Foo\Local Settings.

I think Microsoft has recognized that the registry hinders installation 
of applications, rather than helping it, and they seem to be offering 
this new standarized area for config files.

Anyone worked with this before?

Harold

Biju wrote:
> Harold,
>  
> Is there Cygwin equivalents for Windows API
> GetPrivateProfileInt, GetPrivateProfileString 
> WritePrivateProfileString in "kernel32.dll"
> If so you could use ini files instead of registry.
> and windows will take care of opening, locking, sharing, saving etc.
> It is fast too....
> 
> If not, as current goal is to get a more user friendly XWin, 
> I dont mind you using windows registry. 
> 
> I feel using XML is also good, 
> And dont think dependency to xml library is a big issue.
> 
> But let me tell why I am against programs using win Registry....
> 
> Since the time from programs start using win.ini and system.ini
> It became difficult for people like me to copy the directory 
> and start running the programs. (Users freedom reduced !!!)
> 
> Then when programs started using registry no longer we are able 
> copy and run, programs should be installed to run it.
> (A part of Users freedom gone!!!)
> 
> In the time of DOS if you feel to format ur PC, you can just backup 
> all your application, then format ur PC, Install DOS, copy only what 
> ever u want from the backup, do minimal modification to autoexec.bat & 
> config.sys and then start working.
> 
> Now you can not do that.
> 
> Real problem is when registry gets corrupted. I know people who are 
> struggling with those issues.
> 
> Myself, I had bad experience while I wanted to upgrade my PC from 
> XP Home to Pro.
> 
> As registry is keep growing performance of ur PC will reduce in due time.
> (Solution I found was to create a new user and start working
> Still the performance to equal as original)
> 
> registry only have very limited access control.
> user can not do a "chmod" on it.
> so it is easy to use, read or write any where in registry and 
> programmers/companies started misusing it.
> If it was in a file, programers will need to explain it 
> if they tried to write it in a wrong dir.
> 
> 
> 
> But case where we can not avoid, I dont mind using registry.
> even an easier facility to manipulate it is OK.
> like Alexander Gottwald's example
> echo "Some value" > /proc/registry/HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Â…
> (/dev/registry/ even better)
> But use it only when it is essential
> 
> cheers
> biju
> 
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