[k4rli]

Every Linux tool? Simply not true. Most tools keep it in a ~ subdir like ~/.config

MacOS creates a junk file/folder just by visiting any folder. It's not comparable.

[demondemidi]

You're right, I didn't mean 100% of all linux tools, like coreutils. But every piece of linux software I've purchased a license for does exactly this.

I think people that get upset about this just need something to fret about, at least in my experience. They probably trim their speaker cables to the same length to match impedence, too.

[tekknik]

Any linux desktop environment is going to do the same, as the DE will need to store previews and thumbnails amongst other things. Except on a linux machine this data would be stored in some other location that you’ll have to lookup and find.