[Pkg-xfce-devel] Bug#747850: xfce4 incorrectly stores session configuration in .cache directory

[Shannon Dealy]

Package: xfce4
Version: 4.8.0.3
Severity: normal

Dear Maintainer,

xfce4 is currently storing session information under $HOME/.cache/sessions
when at least some of this information should be stored somewhere under
$HOME/.config/ instead.

Cache directories historically were intended for data which the program could
either regenerate or reload from external sources, so cache folders could
be deleted (or in my case not backed up) without data loss.

An example of this for "/var/cache" from the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard:

  "/var/cache is intended for cached data from applications. Such data is
   locally generated as a result of time-consuming I/O or calculation. The
   application must be able to regenerate or restore the data. Unlike
   /var/spool, the cached files can be deleted without data loss"

I do realize that FHS does not cover the $HOME/.cache directories however, 
their definition is consistent with the historical meaning and usage of 
"cache" directories. XDG which does define the standard for these directories
gives a much more vague definition of:

   "defines the base directory relative to which user specific non-essential
    data files should be stored."

however, I would still interpret "non-essential" files as those which would
meet the FHS definition above.

As a saved session cannot be recovered by the program if $HOME/.cache is lost,
the user must manually rebuild the lost session layout (which in my case takes
about 10 minutes). This appears to violate the purpose of the $HOME/.cache
directory.


-- System Information:
Debian Release: 7.5
  APT prefers stable-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Foreign Architectures: i386

Kernel: Linux 3.9-0.bpo.1-amd64 (SMP w/4 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash

Versions of packages xfce4 depends on:
ii  gtk2-engines-xfce  2.8.1-3
ii  orage              4.8.3-2
ii  thunar             1.2.3-4+b1
ii  xfce4-appfinder    4.8.0-3
ii  xfce4-mixer        4.8.0-3+b1
ii  xfce4-panel        4.8.6-4
ii  xfce4-session      4.8.3-3
ii  xfce4-settings     4.8.3-2
ii  xfce4-utils        4.8.3-2
ii  xfconf             4.8.1-1
ii  xfdesktop4         4.8.3-2
ii  xfwm4              4.8.3-2

Versions of packages xfce4 recommends:
ii  desktop-base      7.0.3
ii  tango-icon-theme  0.8.90-5
ii  thunar-volman     0.6.1-1
ii  xfce4-notifyd     0.2.2-2
ii  xorg              1:7.7+3~deb7u1

Versions of packages xfce4 suggests:
ii  xfce4-goodies  4.8.2
ii  xfprint4       4.6.1-3

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