Why should I avoid using ~/.appname for my application?

Using hidden folders directly in the home directory is considered a legacy pattern that clutters user space; XDG standards provide a cleaner, more organized alternative used by modern software.

Does this skill require external dependencies?

No, it includes both a standard-library-only implementation for minimal dependencies and a platformdirs implementation for advanced cross-platform needs.

What is the XDG Base Directory Specification?

It is a standard for where user-specific configuration and data files should be stored on Unix-like operating systems to avoid cluttering the home directory with hidden files.

How does this skill handle cross-platform paths?

It provides patterns for using the platformdirs library, which maps XDG standards to their native equivalents on macOS (Library/Application Support) and Windows (AppData).

XDG Base Directory Manager

Name: XDG Base Directory Manager
Author: Jamie-BitFlight

byJamie-BitFlight

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Developer Tools

Implements standardized Linux and cross-platform directory structures for configuration, data, cache, and state files following the XDG specification.

The XDG Base Directory Manager skill enables Claude to correctly implement professional file storage patterns, moving away from legacy home directory clutter like ~/.appname. It provides robust logic for handling environment variables such as XDG_CONFIG_HOME and XDG_DATA_HOME, ensures path absolute-value validation, and offers implementation patterns for both Python standard library and platformdirs. This skill is essential for developers building CLI tools or applications that require professional, cross-platform file management that respects user preferences and OS conventions.

Key Features

01Standardized path resolution for config, data, cache, and state files

02System-wide search path handling for XDG_CONFIG_DIRS and XDG_DATA_DIRS

03Environment variable validation for absolute path requirements

0411 GitHub stars

05Default fallback logic per XDG Base Directory Specification v0.8

06Cross-platform support patterns for Linux, macOS, and Windows

Use Cases

01Building cross-platform Python applications with consistent file storage

02Migrating legacy CLI tools from ~/.appname to XDG-compliant structures

03Designing robust configuration management systems for Unix-like environments

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add jamie-bitflight/claude_skills xdg-base-directory

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill