Why is the following Linux directory valid

Question

I am Linux novice, I am working with some C++ code that opens files in the following directory:

home/scs/SCS/

My home directory in Linux is set to "home/scs" when I run printenv HOME from terminal:

Now, with terminal opened and running from "home", if do cd SCS that works:

So, my terminal, in my screenshots, is it currently pointing at home/scs/SCS ? I don't think so.

What is confusing is that if we use the Ubuntu file explorer the home directory is just /home:

If navigate to the SCS directory it is just /home/scs:

So, in my C++ code, the value /home/scs/SCS is valid and is used throughout the code, it is "built" in C++ using the following code:

#define SCS_HOME    "/home/scs/"   // Target Machine.
#define PATH_TO_SCS QString(SCS_HOME) + "SCS/"

How can /home/scs/SCS/ work? From my perspective the directory does not exist, but it is most certainly valid in the C++ code.

Answer 1

So, my terminal, in my screenshots, is it currently pointing at home/scs/SCS ? I don't think so.

Why not? The directory is clearly listed in the output of ls, and you even changed into it.

What is confusing is that if we use the Ubuntu file explorer the home directory is just /home

No, the dialog says that the location of your home directory (which is called /home/scs) is /home/. Your home directory is in /home/; that's its location. It is /home/scs.

If navigate to the SCS directory it is just /home/scs.

Yes, similarly, the SCS directory is found inside /home/scs/. That's its location.

Here's your directory structure:

/
+--- home
|      +--- scs
|      |     +--- SCS

What is confusing is that you created a user account named scs, with a home directory /home/scs, then put a directory named SCS inside it. Seems like a bad name for the directory.

Answer 2

Does your C++ code fail to correctly access the directory "/home/scs/SCS/"? Or are you having any other actual problems?

I looks like "SCS exists and is in the correct place.. Your file browsing tool is showing "SCS" to be inside of your home directory ( the popup says it's named "scs" and under "/home" )

When the shell says "~", that is an abbreviation for your home directory, which is, of course, "/home/scs".

It all matches.