TUAW Tip: Put your apps wherever you want

This is funny right on the heels of the entry "TUAW takes Mac security seriously".

If you take security seriously:
1) Install your applications as an Administrator in the Applications folder.
2) Run your applications from a regular user account.

The Applications folder is analogous to /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin; users should NOT have write access to these areas.

In my experience, the WOW-feeling about having your own apps-folder structure, is significantly less than the hassle to remember where you put this and that app, the next time there is an update. This way you are just likely to get several apps of different versions filling up your harddisk, but that is also a sport for some ;-)

"Also be warned, several applications (Quicksilver, CandyBar) search for apps in the Applications folder, and if you move them to somewhere else, they might not be found."

Note that Mac OS X also looks for applications in /Applications and ~/Applications in order to provide features such as Services. For example, if one of your applications provides its own Services, those Services won't work unless the application is located in one of the Application folders. (This isn't limited to Services; it's just one example.) So you should generally keep your applications in one of these two folders.


"while other folders are denied access, an "Applications" folder in a user's home folder is still accessible"

Dave: It depends how that folder was created. (And if your ~/Applications folder does provide access to other users, in my opinion it's a good idea, for security reasons, to make sure the folder has the standard user-folder permissions.)

Yeah, I gotta say, this is a weird tip. I was certainly disappointed when it began to be harder to move things whereever I wanted them. I think that was some time around OS8. But, I've since learned to deal. Sure, maybe you can move them, but aliases work so well, what's the point?

Also, since the advent of OSX, you've got the Dock. The Dock kicks a$$, long live the dock! I keep my dock fairly small and even on the tiny screen on my G3 iMac (don't laugh, I'm poor, I should really submit a picture of the broken-hinged PB I was recently gifted in the plywood stand I made for it to the rig-of-the-day photos, it's hot and I'm now up to a screaming 550mhz! Anyway, I'm way off-topic now...) I can still fit like 25 apps in the dock. That's enough for a "favorites" category, don't you think?

Now the one reason I can see to move an app around rather than an alias is that you are running out of space on your start-up disk. But then, moving apps to other discs is always a risky proposition. Of course I had this problem with my G3's original 13GB (that's the 400mhz DV SE, in case you're wondering) I finally spent the $50 to replace the internal HD with 120GB (7200rpm... not recommended, but after a year, it hasn't melted, knock on translucent graphite plastic!)

I do this with little apps that I find on the web. I have a folder right below the main Applications folder called 'applications downloaded' and dump them all in there (unless the installer puts it in the Applications folder, then I leave it where it stuck it). Never had a problem with the computer running anything this way. Good Times!

Personally I just leave my Applications folder all nasty and just alias and organize my frequently used applications in a MaxMenu menu. And for my very frequently used application I also take advantage of MaxMenu's hotkey feature.

r.e. QuickTime/iTunes updates working even if you move them - I have had iTunes get a partial update after being moved so I end up with a "ghost" version in the /Applications folder. My advice: don't move any pre-installed Apple apps like Mail, iChat etc.

r.e. where to put them: If you create a folder called "Applications" in your home directory, it automatically gets the "Applications Folder" icon, which is cool. However, I tend to keep all my apps in subdirectories under /Applications named:

__comm
__data
__dev
__games
__media
__writing

These names tend to fluctuate a bit over the years.

P.S. Why is my personal info *never* remembered, even if I click on (*)Yes when answering "Do you want us to remember your personal information for next time?"

This is the dumbest tip. Are you a moron? Hey heres another tip how about put your pictures in your movie file.

Moving apps around, especially apple apps just causes problems. Keep them in the APP folder. Make an alias and place thatwhere ever you want.

Who is editing these stupid tips. Try getting someone who knows what they are talking about.

Thank You.

This is just asking for someone to run a program from the disk image. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD. The best place to keep apps is in the apps folder. I do like the suggestion of installing the smaller 3rd party apps in your home folder under an applications folder though.

I use sub-folders in the Applications folder. A few things I've discovered:
1. Quicktime and iTunes will update through Software Update, even when moved to a subfolder, but the updated versions appear in the Applications folder.
2. Software Update will not find iPhoto if it's been moved. Perhaps the same with some other iLife apps--don't know.
3. Older versions of MS Office had to stay in their own folder (without being renamed) in the Applications folder. Not sure about the current version.

My own backup strategy is to only backup my documents, not my apps. I'll re-download or re-install the apps if I need to, which is a good opportunity to clear out cruft and make sure you get updated versions.