Temp Cache Directory in Vivaldi

PhredE

A reprise from a thread of the same name in 2018, now locked.

Where is it?
How do I change it?

Answered by: Para-NoidPara-Noid - AMBASSADOR - 22 Sept 2018, 08:09
Try c:\users\pc name\appdata\local\vivaldi\user data\default
Or
V>About>Profile Path

He missed answering the second question. Expanded:
How do I change it to point to my RAM drive?

pafflick

@PhredE On Windows you can use the mklink command to create a symbolic link (while the browser is not running). But it's not something I would recommend - especially if you don't have any experience with it, as it might result in breaking something or even in a data loss.

vongalin

@PhredE - Hi ! I do something very similar to this and is specific to my needs and setup.

I have my Vivaldi installed in my *C:\Utilities\Vivaldi* folder. Through trial-and-error, I have found the bare minimum files required to start Vivaldi fresh each and every time and 1) maintain my settings/preferences and 2) my extension settings.

I do not use most of the features that others do, e.g. mail, calendar, panels, etc. Here is my base list of folders and files that stay between sessions :

Path: C:\Utilities\Vivaldi\User Data\
Name                         Type
---------------------------  -----------
Default                      File folder
AdverseAdSiteList.json       json
First Run

Path: C:\Utilities\Vivaldi\User Data\Default\
Name                              Type
--------------------------------  -----------
Extension Scripts                 File folder
Extensions                        File folder
Local App Settings                File folder
Local Extension Settings          File folder
Managed Extension Settings        File folder
Web Applications                  File folder
AdBlockState                      File
Bookmarks                         File
Favicons                          File
Notes                             File
Preferences                       File
Secure Preferences                File
Vivaldi Profile.ico               Icon

Every other folder and file under the User Data folder structure is configured to point to my RAM drive. This way, it is quick to launch a fresh Vivaldi and everything is essentially nuked when I either shutdown, reboot or clear RAM. I also run a specialized script that cleans out quite a lot of entries from the Preferences file, e.g. site and media engagement settings and cleans my Bookmarks file, removes thumbnails and vacuums the file.

I don't do many modifications in the Application folder; however, my script does modify the contextmenus.xml file found in my C:\Utilities\Vivaldi\Application\5.3.2669.3\resources\vivaldi\menus folder. My script removes every and all traces of emojis and translate menus.

Again, this is highly customized to my setup, needs and browser preferences. This would most likely not work for mail and calendar users, but could easily modified.

I do not save sessions, I don't use tab stacks and if I have more than 3-4 tabs open, I get angry.

I have been running this type of setup for many years now and the only real annoyance that I have found is the pinned Taskbar icon location is reset each time. I generally would pin my Vivaldi icon to the far left, it resets to the far right. For now, I just leave it on the right.

PhredE

@pafflick - thanks. I am quite familiar with symbolic links, so please go ahead. It would be a valuable contribution to Vivaldi lore, I'd think.

What should be symbolically linked to what using this method? I suspect I know half of the answer, but it would be good if you could spell it all out.

It's a pity that Vivaldi isn't attuned to 'swapping' to a RAM-drive as easily as Firefox is, given the vast increase in speed of RAM over disk. In Firefox you just point browser.cache.disk.parent_directory in about:config to the RAM-drive, and finish. Mutatis mutandis your environment variables, in general.

Many thanks.

PhredE

@vongalin - that's a very particular setup you have. Thanks for describing it; certainly something to ponder.

Maybe you got the idea for doing this from a spy movie CCleaner does a reasonable job of cleaning up our browsers' traces, as long as you remove the (paid for?) cookie exceptions in the options. All the rest it can nuke too, I believe.
Pay attention to its other settings that try to sneak it in as a TSR.

BTW, the European Union is in the throes of mandating global privacy protection in websites that visit the EU, that is, every website in existence. There are penalties that would bankrupt most website holders in an instant, so, like 'We are storing cookies' popups, and unlike the ignored 'Do not track' setting, this should have a marked effect on privacy on the internet. If that is your concern.