User data profile namespace

A computer-implemented method of separating application data and user data stored in a plurality of folders in a namespace data structure, the method comprising:

• creating, in a computing device, at a first namespace-hierarchy level that is one namespace-hierarchy level below a users folder configured to store user profiles for a plurality of users, a public folder for storing information to be shared with other users;
• creating, at the first namespace-hierarchy level, per-user folders for each user, the per-user folders storing data and settings particular to each user;
• creating, at a second namespace-hierarchy level that is one level below the first namespace-hierarchy level, subfolders for each per-user folder that separate application data and user data, the sub-folders including:
• i) a desktop folder, the desktop including shortcuts;
• ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by the user;
• iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;
• iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;
• v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;
• vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user;
• vii) a pictures folder for storing pictures saved by the user;
• and
• viii) an application data folder for storing per user application data and binaries, wherein the application data folder includes a local folder and a roaming folder, wherein further the local folder stores machine-dependent application data and settings, and the roaming folder stores machine-independent application data and settings;
• and
• separating the application data and the user data in the each per user folder.