Store configuration in per-user AppData

FileManager.csproj

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
 
     <PropertyGroup>
       <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@
     <Content Include="Languages\*.lang">
       <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
     </Content>
-    <Content Include="links.json">
-      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
-    </Content>
   </ItemGroup>
 
   </Project>

MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ private void OpenLynkr_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         private void OpenSettingsIni_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         {
             Logger.Log("Open Settings ini clicked");
-            var configPath = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "dsfm.ini");
+            var configPath = Settings.ConfigPath;
             try
             {
                 Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo("notepad.exe", configPath)

Models/Settings.cs

@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
+using DamnSimpleFileManager.Utils;
 
 namespace DamnSimpleFileManager
 {
     internal static class Settings
     {
-        private static readonly string ConfigPath = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "dsfm.ini");
+        internal static string ConfigPath => AppData.GetPath("dsfm.ini");
         private static readonly Dictionary<string, string> Values = new();
 
         public static bool ShowHiddenFiles =>

README.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ The application is intentionally minimalistic and aims to offer a straightforwar
 
 ## Configuration
 
-`dsfm.ini` is created automatically next to the application.
+`dsfm.ini` is stored per-user in the application's data folder (e.g., `%APPDATA%\\DamnSimpleFileManager`).
 Set `hidden_files=false` to hide files and folders marked as hidden.
 Set `copy_confirmation=false` to copy files and folders without confirmation.
 Set `move_confirmation=false` to move files and folders without confirmation.

Utils/AppData.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Security.AccessControl;
+using System.Security.Principal;
+
+namespace DamnSimpleFileManager.Utils
+{
+    public static class AppData
+    {
+        public static readonly string DirectoryPath;
+
+        static AppData()
+        {
+            var basePath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData);
+            DirectoryPath = Path.Combine(basePath, "DamnSimpleFileManager");
+            EnsureDirectory();
+        }
+
+        private static void EnsureDirectory()
+        {
+            if (Directory.Exists(DirectoryPath)) return;
+
+            var userSid = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().User!;
+            var security = new DirectorySecurity();
+            security.SetOwner(userSid);
+            security.AddAccessRule(new FileSystemAccessRule(
+                userSid,
+                FileSystemRights.FullControl,
+                InheritanceFlags.ContainerInherit | InheritanceFlags.ObjectInherit,
+                PropagationFlags.None,
+                AccessControlType.Allow));
+
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(DirectoryPath, security);
+        }
+
+        public static string GetPath(string fileName)
+        {
+            var path = Path.Combine(DirectoryPath, fileName);
+            if (!File.Exists(path))
+            {
+                using (File.Create(path)) { }
+                var userSid = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().User!;
+                var security = new FileSecurity();
+                security.SetOwner(userSid);
+                security.AddAccessRule(new FileSystemAccessRule(
+                    userSid,
+                    FileSystemRights.FullControl,
+                    AccessControlType.Allow));
+                File.SetAccessControl(path, security);
+            }
+            return path;
+        }
+    }
+}
+

Utils/LinkStorage.cs

@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ namespace DamnSimpleFileManager.Utils
 {
     public static class LinkStorage
     {
-        private const string FileName = "links.json";
+        private static readonly string FileName = AppData.GetPath("links.json");
 
         public static List<LinkItem> Load()
         {
-            if (!File.Exists(FileName)) return new List<LinkItem>();
             var json = File.ReadAllText(FileName);
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(json)) return new List<LinkItem>();
             return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<LinkItem>>(json) ?? new List<LinkItem>();
         }