Why are the hidden settings-folders not deleted when purging an application?

Question

I did

sudo apt-get remove --purge

for several packages, but apparently the personal settings are kept. Is there a command or tool to delete them automatically?

The command should now be sudo apt-get purge
– Cas
May 13, 2011 at 18:42 — Cas, May 13, 2011 at 18:42

Florian Diesch · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-13 18:32:33Z

10

If you mean the folders in your home folder: No, the package manager never touches anything in a users's home folder.

I don't know of any tool that assists you in cleaning your home folder from config files you don't need any more - but that sounds like a nice idea.

answered May 13, 2011 at 18:32

Florian Diesch

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What about sudo apt-get purge mentioned by @Cas in his comment?
– MestreLion
May 28, 2011 at 0:05
@MestreLion sudo apt-get purge removes global config files (usually somewhere in /etc/) not removed by sudo apt-get remove but still doesn't touch the user's home folder
– Florian Diesch
May 28, 2011 at 0:29
Wow... I didnt know that! I always used Synaptics instead of Software Center to remove a software because i thought that "purge" would be the cleanest way, and it purged everything. That means most of my ~/.folders are orphaned garbage. Thats sad! :(
– MestreLion
May 28, 2011 at 6:40

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