I'm new to Fedora KDE and am still getting used to how software and storage are organized compared with Windows. I installed some RPM packages and codecs through the terminal so Firefox could play YouTube videos, but I'm not sure where those files went or how to keep track of them. I also installed the 140 GB game Final Fantasy XIV using its quick launcher. The launcher says it uses /home/my-user/.xlcore, but I can't see that folder in Dolphin unless I choose the option to open the Wine prefix. I don't remember installing Wine, either, so I'm unclear how it was added, where its files are stored, and how I would uninstall the game and its related data. What are the normal ways to find installed applications, package files, hidden folders, Wine prefixes, and large game installations on Fedora?
4 Answers
The Wine files exist because the launcher needs Wine to run the Windows version of the game. Launchers often create and manage their own Wine prefix, which is a self-contained directory containing a fake Windows drive, installed game files, and Wine-related settings. In this case, the prefix and game data are under ~/.xlcore. Use the launcher’s uninstall or remove option if it has one; afterward, remove the remaining .xlcore directory only if you’re sure you no longer need its game data or prefix.
The .xlcore directory starts with a dot, so it’s hidden. In Dolphin, press Ctrl+H or enable “Show Hidden Files,” and you should be able to browse to /home/your-user/.xlcore. You can also type that path directly into the location bar. Your personal application settings are commonly stored in other hidden directories such as ~/.config.
Most software installed through Fedora’s package manager is spread across standard system directories such as /usr/bin, /usr/lib, and /etc rather than being placed in one application folder. Manage those packages with DNF instead of deleting files manually. For example, dnf list installed can show installed packages, and rpm -ql package-name lists the files belonging to a particular RPM. Discover can also show many installed graphical applications, especially Flatpaks.
For finding files, you can use commands such as find or locate. For example, find ~ -name 'filename' searches your home directory, while whereis program-name can show common locations for an executable. Be careful with broad searches and avoid deleting things from /bin, /lib, /usr, or other system directories manually. Linux uses several standard locations, and the package manager is normally the safest way to install, update, and remove system software.
The same applies in Konsole: ls normally hides dot-files, while ls -a shows them.