XDG/EnvVar/XDG_CONFIG_HOME

• XDG_CONFIG_HOME is an environment variable defined by the XDG Base Directory Specification. It tells applications where to store user-specific configuration files.

• Default behavior

• If XDG_CONFIG_HOME is not set, programs fall back to:

  • ~/.config

    So:
    
    

    $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/tmux

    
    usually means:
    
    

    ~/.config/tmux

    ---

• Why it exists

  
  The XDG spec standardizes where apps put:
  

• config files
• data files
• cache files

  
  Instead of cluttering $HOME with dotfiles like:
  
  

  ~/.tmux.conf
  ~/.gitconfig
  ~/.config
  ~/.somethingelse

  
  apps can use:
  
  

  ~/.config/<app>/

  
  This makes configuration:
  

• more organized
• easier to back up
• easier to redirect (e.g., in containers or custom setups)

  ---

• How to check yours

  echo $XDG_CONFIG_HOME

  
  If it prints nothing, it means you’re using the default ~/.config.