How to use the command xdg-user-dirs-update (with examples)

The xdg-user-dirs-update command is used to update the XDG user directories. These directories, such as “Desktop” and “Documents,” are standard directories in the Linux file system that are used to store specific types of user files. This command allows you to change the path of a specific user directory or write the result to a dry-run file instead of the default configuration file.

Use case 1: Change XDG’s DESKTOP directory

Code:

xdg-user-dirs-update --set DESKTOP "path/to/directory"

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to change the path of the “Desktop” directory for the user. By default, the “Desktop” directory is located under the user’s home directory, but this command allows you to specify a different directory.

Explanation:

• --set DESKTOP: This argument specifies that we want to change the path of the “Desktop” directory.
• "path/to/directory": This is the absolute path to the directory where you want the “Desktop” directory to be located.

Example output: Upon running the command, the XDG user directories will be updated and the “Desktop” directory will be changed to the specified directory.

Use case 2: Write result to dry-run file

Code:

xdg-user-dirs-update --dummy-output "path/to/dry_run_file" --set xdg_user_directory "path/to/directory"

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to write the result of updating the XDG user directories to a dry-run file instead of modifying the default configuration file. This can be useful for testing purposes or when you want to preview the changes before applying them.

Explanation:

• --dummy-output "path/to/dry_run_file": This argument specifies the path to the dry-run file where you want to write the result.
• --set xdg_user_directory: This argument specifies that we want to change the path of a user directory.
• "path/to/directory": This is the absolute path to the directory where you want the user directory to be located.

Example output: Upon running the command, the XDG user directories will be updated and the result will be written to the specified dry-run file. The dry-run file will contain the updated configuration without modifying the actual user directories.

Conclusion:

The xdg-user-dirs-update command provides a convenient way to update the XDG user directories in Linux. Whether you need to change the path of a specific user directory or write the result to a dry-run file, this command gives you the flexibility to customize your user directories according to your needs.