this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2026
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This really only applies to macos since there is a distinction between an application, a folder, and a file.
I believe applications on macos are actually just folders that have a specific structure, so having them be visually distinct from regular folders and files is kinda important.
You can still execute files directly, so an executable file and an "application" are two distinct concepts in that sense.
On Apple's side, it would definitely be possible for someone to set their application icon to look like the folder icon, then run arbitrary code without the user knowing they weren't opening a folder. So there's a bit of a security reason for this too.
And that makes sense then. It being a squircle is a design choice and I can understand it's purpose.
Again, something visual to distinguish an application from other interactive elements makes sense. I just don't subscribe to the whole esthetic aspect of the article.