Locating files.
WHAT A PATH IS
The location of a file within the file system.
WHAT ABSOLUTE MEANS
Stated from the root, meaning the same thing always.
WHAT RELATIVE MEANS
Stated from the current location, meaning different things depending on where you are.
WHY THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS
Scripts working when run from one location and failing from another.
WHAT DIFFERS BETWEEN SYSTEMS
The separator character Whether case is significant Reserved characters and names
WHY CASE SENSITIVITY MATTERS
Developing where case is ignored and deploying where it is not produces failures that are baffling until identified.
WHAT TO AVOID IN FILENAMES
Spaces, where files will be used on the web or in scripts Characters some systems reject Very long paths, which some systems limit Names differing only in case
WHAT CONVENTIONS TO ADOPT
Consistent naming, with dates written year first.
WHY
It sorts correctly and is unambiguous.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH IN AN ORGANISATION
A convention, documented, for shared storage.
