[path_provider] documents folder

[FMorschel]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues
• I have read the guide to filing a bug

Use case

When we want our project to be able to find documents inside the user's computer, I believe that a good practice would be to find the Documents folder inside the user folder in all OSs. Sibling to the Download folder in all Desktop environments I believe.

Proposal

Create a getDocumentssDirectory method on path_provider. I believe this one should aim to simply have the functionality on all Desktop environments, not on Android or iOS.

[dam-ease]

Thanks for proposing this.
Can you help with more information on how this would differ from getApplicationDocumentsDirectory()?

[FMorschel]

I do not have a Mac, but I will try and test this on a virtual machine with Linux if needed. The issue was raised by me mostly because this one is not solved, maybe you can help me clarify that.

The first comment there, after the description, shows the following path: /Users/bbkane/Library/Containers/com.bbkane.readingWritingFiles/Data/Documents. From what I could tell, this is running on a Mac the getApplicationDocumentsDirectory function.

I still have a question:

• Why is it that on Windows I get redirected to the Documents folder under my user's folder whereas on Mac (assuming my previous paragraph is right), Android and other systems give me a folder specific to my own app?

This question is asked because I can see a difference between the user Documents folder and a folder for documents my own app will store. Would then the second one be getApplicationSupportDirectory?

[dam-ease]

Thanks for your detailed response.
I think I understand that the Documents folder you are referring to here is that of the device and not one specifically in the application.
Your proposal will be synonymous with getExternalStorageDirectory which is available only on Android.
If this is the case, kindly check out #127101, to confirm it's similar/related to the use case you are describing?

[FMorschel]

Yes, it is. Should this issue be closed then? Since that issue is more broad than this one?

[FMorschel]

Following the suggested issue and related ones, I found #77628 which is exactly what I was trying to say. I'm closing this in favour of that one (this comment explains my thoughts as well)

[github-actions]

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