Re: Empty Applications folder?

On Tue, 5 Jun 2012 14:45:19 +0100, Mark <captain.black@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Why is there a difference between <myname>->Applications and Applications?

<https://img.skitch.com/20120605-c1pkapga71w7d6ifbwhj58dxrq.jpg>

All the other folders on the left of the Finder dialogue are (seem to be)
mirrors/copies of those same folders under '<myname>' - all except
Applications.

The things in the Places sidebar are just shortcuts/bookmarks pointing
at disks and folders - the pointed-to object can be anywhere, and you
can of course add your own by drag'n'drop between/before/after
existing ones.

I've never noticed before, but today I installed something (it
was the usual drag 'n' drop in a .dmg to an Applications alias in the .dmg) &
couldn't find it - until I checked in there by chance. Portal was also in
there, but I've not used that for many months. Now the folder is empty
(Portal in the /other/ Applications folder, and that new app deleted). Is
this strange behaviour?

The /Applications folder is for apps available to all users on the
Mac. The (home)/Applications folder is for apps that are just for you.

That's all, nothing special. The (home)/Applications folder isn't even
created by default as part of a new user, since Snow Leopard maybe?
Lion definitely.

Steam nowadays creates its game launchers on the desktop (ie
(home)/Desktop) but in the past did make them in the
(home)/Applications folder. Crossover makes its shortcuts to Windows
programs there too, and both are for a good reason - Steam and
Crossover apps are all per-user, all the support files are hidden away
in your home folder so won't work for other users.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so
long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see
the ones which open for us. - Alexander Graham Bell
.

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