# .txt on README? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [October 29, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657 "2007-10-29T21:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/1 "2007-10-29T21:07:32Z")
I’m curious about use the .txt extension on README. I know Hoe does this. Why? Is this just to make it easier for Windows developers? Or is there some other reason? T. ---
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/2 "2007-10-30T02:07:33Z")
On Oct 29, 2007, at 4:06 PM, Trans wrote: > I’m curious about use the .txt extension on README. I know Hoe does > this. Why? Is this just to make it easier for Windows developers? Or > is there some other reason? Not just Windows. The Mac OS X Finder recognizes the txt extension. Regards, Morton ---
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/3 "2007-10-30T02:58:57Z")
Quoth Morton G.: > On Oct 29, 2007, at 4:06 PM, Trans wrote: > > > I’m curious about use the .txt extension on README. I know Hoe does > > this. Why? Is this just to make it easier for Windows developers? Or > > is there some other reason? > > Not just Windows. The Mac OS X Finder recognizes the txt extension. > > Regards, Morton Surely It’s not just about recognition? Linux graphical file-explorers (Nautilus, Konqueror, etc) recognise the ‘.txt’ extension, but it isn’t required. Regards, ---
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/4 "2007-10-30T16:15:48Z")
On Oct 29, 2007, at 2:06 PM, Trans wrote: > I’m curious about use the .txt extension on README. I know Hoe does > this. Why? Is this just to make it easier for Windows developers? Or > is there some other reason? Hoe is using regexp patterns to select files to include in the gem. One of those patterns includes all files with a .txt extension. Putting .txt onto the end of the README is easier than creating a special regexp case for all files like README, History, Manifest, etc. This falls under the “sloth” rule from Larry Wall. Blessings, TwP ---
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/5 "2007-10-30T18:12:28Z")
On Oct 30, 11:00 am, Tim P. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > This falls under the “sloth” rule from Larry Wall. Ah, I see. Thanks for explaining. I just wanted to makes sure I wasn’t missing any crucial aspect of cross-platform support b/c of it. If it’s just a Hoe “slothy” thing, then I think I’m okay. I just use [A- Z]\*, and have a config option for any special exclusions. Thanks, T. ---
**Author:** ![Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@Trans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Trans)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 6:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/txt-on-readme/118657/6 "2007-10-30T06:25:48Z")
Konrad M. wrote: > Surely It’s not just about recognition? Linux graphical file-explorers > (Nautilus, Konqueror, etc) recognise the ‘.txt’ extension, but it isn’t > required. > > ## Regards, > > Konrad M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) [http://konrad.sobertillnoon.com/](http://konrad.sobertillnoon.com/) I think any decent file management program should use both MIME and .extension. I know KDE/Konqueror does this but I think Windows is more concerned with the .txt and skips looking at the text/plain mime type but I’ve never really had cause to screw with file associations under Windows NT → I just right click and open with vim it 🙂 By default I assume files without extensions are text files (UTF-8, ISO 8859-x, ASCII). If it’s full of garbage I know it’s binary. When in doubt I just use file(1) since it’s used in just about every Linux and BSD system out there and has a Windows port as well. TerryP. PS: Yes I do prefer my unix shell to file managers.