I work under the assumption that anything in the downloads folder is up for deletion at any point in time. I periodically just delete everything in there without so much as a glance
I used to have my desktop as a downloads and temporary files area. I had a cron job set up which moved all files unmodified in a couple days to a separate temp archive folder. I had another cron job which deleted all files older than 6 months from that archive folder. (By older, I mean comparing the last modified date).<p>The act of moving a file away from the desktop or that archive folder meant I wanted to keep it.<p>Bonus points: my desktop tended to be clean despite me creating lots of random temporary files on it.<p>At some point, while switching between OSes, I stopped porting that 2 scripts. I should probably write them again...
Absolutely not. Not entirely sure why though. I just checked it yesterday, and there’s stuff since my last reset about a year ago. Really, if you’re a disorganized weirdo like me lmao it helps you remember where some files are. The other day I was looking for some video transformation software I used months ago but couldn’t find it. I tried everything. Last resort? I checked my downloads from 5 months ago and found it. Video Proc. But don’t even get me started on my desktop or folders named desktop files because that’s another story.
At work I have a PS script to move everything older than a few days in Downloads to an Archive folder where they sit for a few extra days "in case" and then to the recycle bin. It runs every time I log on to the machine.<p>At home, I really want to do the same, but already have too many things to catch-up on organizing. I do have a dummy file name "!! Downloads is not permanent" So it usually sorts to the top.
If I know what I <i>would do</i> with the file (eg I downloaded Shortcut yesterday, intenting to use it) I usually move it (cut and paste, and I prefer portable apps) so they don't clutter the D. folder.<p>But the other files... well, once in a while I just open the D. folder (every year or two?) and if I can't find a place or a reason to store this file - Del, or for things like FirefoxPortable92.1.6.9.0.exe - Shift+Del
I clean it up when it clogs and feels uncomfortable to browse (or just too big). I also have Downloads/Persistent, where safe to lose but useful distros and downloads reside.<p>I wish programs and systems could just access small files through the browser as if it was a local folder, that would reduce the need for all that.
Most of the time it’s software in my /downloads folder. Since software is always getting updated I delete the copy and I can reliably get the latest release when I need it. Software that I suspect will not be updated and not have an online download link in the near future is kept. I have a small library of abandonware you can’t even download anymore.
All of my downloads folders are huge unwieldy messes. I clean them out on the occasion that I want to feel conscientious. Otherwise I can't be bothered.<p>Now, in decades past, when I had but one or two hundred megabytes to mess with, I would assiduously comb through nearly every folder by hand to keep the drive clean and neat. Now, with thousands of gigabytes I'm supremely lazy.
Funny but one time I was in a long flight without any TV/Internet and decided to spend my time cleaning out the downloads folder. Took me about 3 hours. That almost 2 years ago and here I am with my downloads folder again with a few hundred files. Dang it.
I use Hazel to move the file to an archive folder after a month. The idea is if I haven’t deleted it by then I want to keep it but don’t have anywhere specific to store it. I clean out the archive less than I should.