Ask HN: Why does macOS assume apps can reliably maintain settings files?

1•amichail•2h ago

I don’t trust apps to keep settings intact over long periods through multiple updates.

I think macOS should offer a feature to reset to a fresh install while preserving the home directory name and moving its contents to an "old" subdirectory.

Would you use such a feature occasionally (e.g., yearly)?

Comments

Citizen8396•44m ago

Why would macOS assume anything nonstandard about third-party applications? Either they function correctly or they don't.

amichail•36m ago

Because it is very unlikely that an app (third-party or not) can correctly maintain its settings files over multiple years and multiple updates.

An OS should never assume that apps are written perfectly.

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