Lower case directories

[guspasho]

Hi. I'm new, and I just started using SMF. In fact, I'm still learning about what it does and how it works. However, I have already discovered one minor thing that could be changed. Some of the directories use capital letters, but not all of them. As a web developer, I try to make sure all my directory paths are as simple and easy-to-memorize as possible. Web servers treat capitals as different characters, so for simplification I try to make an effort to make all my web paths lower-case-only. It would be great if the next release of SMF followed this simplicity. Thanks.

[phu]

This would definitely be a good idea.  I was a bit put off when I noticed SMF had capitalized directory names.

[Grudge]

Whilst I tend to agree it would be a royal pain to change it now.

[phu]

How do you figure?  A simple grep on the codebase could find the references to the folders that would have to be changed... it might take an hour or two, but I wouldn't call it a royal pain.

[Thantos]

Yes we could change it in the source code.  But can you image the upgrade nightmare that would present for all the installations that are already using the current directory names?

[phu]

As far as I can see, 1.1 RC2 only has four directory names that would need to be changed.  The code changes would be extremely simple, even if there were quite a few, and anyone with the ability to run and update SMF should be able to change a directory name.  So I guess I don't know where you're coming from on the nightmare aspect.

[Thantos]

The problem that the gain is pretty small.  The majority of the time the people browsing the forum have no idea of the directory structure.

Now the cost/risk is pretty high.  Changing it in the source is pretty easy as its only in a few files.  But there are the directories (and URLs) stored in the databases of the forums out there.  So that means we have to rename the actual directory, change Settings.php for the forum, update the database, and hope that everything worked correctly.

IMO this basically comes down to a cost verse benefit, and in this case I don't think the benefit outweighs the cost.

[phu]

Cost/benefit?  If the software works, the cost of changing anything but a security risk or a very major feature basically outweighs its benefit.  Most people browsing the forum also don't have any idea about security holes, but you fix those because there are people who will take advantage of them.

Developers, especially those used to *nix systems, will be happier with this relatively minor change, which could lead to more people being interesting in modding SMF.  You were talking about an update nightmare, which apparently you've abandoned in favor of cost/benefit analysis...

If you just don't want to do this... just say so.  Isn't there more than one dev on the project?

[Ben_S]

Errr, what benefit exactly is changing it? I really cannot see any whatsoever?

[phu]

Standardization?  Making it friendly to people who don't expect capital letters in their paths (i.e. non-Windows users/programmers)?  Making it appear more professional (not having capitalized as well as completely lower-case directory names in the same application)?

No, it's not a huge, pressing issue; I just don't see why there's so much resistance to it.  It's not even my idea, but I don't think the original poster is around to justify it.

[guspasho]

Hi. I am still around. I just haven't logged in in 3 months

I did say it was a minor change but I felt it would follow from what I know about SMF, ie the "simple" in Simple Machines. If it's difficult to implement, that's understandable. I was hoping it would not be.

[vbgamer45]

I don't think its going to happen would cause a great deal of the support to be changed and all the themes and mods as well.