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Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

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Re: Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

#3
Firejail on Linux and Sandboxie on Windows means I can let programs install whenever they want, and I always know it'll be inside some other top-level directory I specify.

Probably better to not let programs spray all over your filesystem anyway.

Re: Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

#5
The most annoying instance of this is installers in Windows that just assume you want to go into `C:/Program Files`, which nowadays requires admin to be modified

This is very annoying on company machines where you may not have admin, since now there's red tape with your IT because the installer was poorly written.

Half the reason I use the WSL is because you at least get "root" on it, so permissions are never an issue

Edit: there may be something lost in translation. This post is in reference to software your IT already approves, which happens to only install to program files.

Re: Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

#6

The most annoying instance of this is installers in Windows that just assume you want to go into `C:/Program Files`, which nowadays requires admin to be modified This is very annoying on company machines where you may not have admin, since now there's red tape with your IT because the installer was poorly written. Half the reason I use the WSL is because you at least get "root" on it, so permissions are never an issu…

There’s an argument to be made that this is by design/edict. The company does NOT want you installing random crap on their machines.

Re: Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

#8
post #2

More options, more mess. The user will always do something funky, then don't remember about it and then complain to the software publisher that it's not working correctly

If software allows changing install location, it should work from everywhere. And there's no excuse for hardcoding Program Files anymore with multiple package managers on windows.

I feel your pain as a developer but as a user, sometimes I need the choice. Try to hide it so non-techies people can click Next Next Next but put it in advanced options somewhere.

Re: Can we talk about the rude installers not asking for installation locations?

#9
Can you be more specific about which platform you're talking about?

On a Mac, I've never wanted an application to go anywhere but the default /Applications. I don't ever recall being asked if I want another location, nor would I want to be.

Is it different on Windows or Linux? And why would you want a different install location?

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