Zwift, I think every time I log in, for some reason puts a file in the My Documents folder of my Mac Mini M1, running Big Sur. Why does it do this and how do I stop it? I delete it every time and every time Zwift puts it back.
Zwift puts a lot of files in the Zwift folder in the Documents folder. Log files, update to the map schedule, Critical power files, activity files etc
Does this particular file you are talking about have a name? Is there a Documents/Zwift folder on your system? Does the file go into that location or just the Documents folder?
I would like to know what Zwift’s idea is using the My Documents folder structure instead of programm data folders? Is it a design flaw? Are their plans (roadmap) to step away from it?
Does it matter?
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Sure! Microsoft designed a specific structure for programs to use their file system by software solutions. Complying to the OS architecture principles is a must for every piece of software. Every programmer could tell you that. Not that you can’t get it to work this way. But you may create problems that are not foreseen. Compare it like cleaning up your garage: would you just throw everything behind the door, of would you put your gear in appropriate boxes first? After you close the garagedoor, you won’t see the difference, but I would go for the second option.
So my question is why Zwift does not comply with those principles? Documents folders are meant for documents, not for program data. But there may be a good reason for it, so that’s why I am asking. Not only because I lost an activity yesterday, probably because of My documents being synced bij Onedrive……
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I don’t know why they do it the way they do but it makes life easier in many ways. There are many that edit files to allow them to ride in current worlds for example.
Sometimes when activity images don’t upload people go back and manually upload them.
Some people manually upload activity files to 3rd party training programs.
People use Zwiftaliser to analyse issues.
All of these are easier to locate in their current structure rather than being buried deep within half a dozen subfolders.
I’m aware that Onedrive can be problematic when it comes to backing up these files.
I’m also slightly concerned you’ve got a secret camera in my garage with your analogy. 
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I can understand that access to files, like activities and custom workouts is easy, but that also accounts for other folders, including program data folders. They could even make Zwift capable of to get access to these locations from within the tool. That’s how other software solutions deal with that.
So my guess is, that this function wasn’t high on the product backlog, and now they are stuck with their decision and it will be more difficult to make to change it, but that is my guess. Would love to hear from a Zwift developer what their reasons were.
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Oof. I just ran into this, too.
+1 for “get the heck outta ~/Documents”!
So cringe when I ls and see some application’s mess in there. >.>
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I just pause onedrive sync for a limited amount of time. That seems to work too. Although it is a workaround, not a solution!
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