• takeheart@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Aha, to me it’s an apt metaphors as files go into folders and it fits with the whole desktop analogy.

    • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Exactly, except like all computer metaphors they break down when you get into the details. I can’t put a document in more than one folder and update them at the same time IRL like I can do with a symlink.

      • takeheart@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        You bring up a pretty good point. Whenever I have a personal document that could go into multiple categories (eg a travel insurance certificate can go into travel, insurance, or finance folder) I place it in all 3 at once with hard links. What’s more is that if I intuitively first search for a document in place A but it’s actually in place B I simply place a link in A for the next time.

        Before I learned a bit about file systems I didn’t even conceive of such a thing being possible; precisely because the folder metaphor had imprinted upon me the physical world constraint that things can only be in a single place at once.