fix(settings): restore legacy settings aliases

py/utils/example_images_metadata.py

@@ -20,22 +20,22 @@ _preview_service = PreviewAssetService(
     exif_utils=ExifUtils,
 )
 
-_METADATA_SYNC_SERVICE: MetadataSyncService | None = None
+_metadata_sync_service: MetadataSyncService | None = None
 
 
 def _get_metadata_sync_service() -> MetadataSyncService:
     """Return the shared metadata sync service, initialising it lazily."""
 
-    global _METADATA_SYNC_SERVICE
-    if _METADATA_SYNC_SERVICE is None:
-        _METADATA_SYNC_SERVICE = MetadataSyncService(
+    global _metadata_sync_service
+    if _metadata_sync_service is None:
+        _metadata_sync_service = MetadataSyncService(
             metadata_manager=MetadataManager,
             preview_service=_preview_service,
             settings=get_settings_manager(),
             default_metadata_provider_factory=get_default_metadata_provider,
             metadata_provider_selector=get_metadata_provider,
         )
-    return _METADATA_SYNC_SERVICE
+    return _metadata_sync_service
 
 
 class MetadataUpdater:

py/utils/example_images_migration.py

@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 CURRENT_NAMING_VERSION = 2  # Increment this when naming conventions change
 
+settings = get_settings_manager()
+
 class ExampleImagesMigration:
     """Handles migrations for example images naming conventions"""
     
     @staticmethod
     async def check_and_run_migrations():
         """Check if migrations are needed and run them in background"""
-        root = get_settings_manager().get('example_images_path')
+        root = settings.get('example_images_path')
         if not root or not os.path.exists(root):
             logger.debug("No example images path configured or path doesn't exist, skipping migrations")
             return

py/utils/settings_paths.py

@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ def ensure_settings_file(logger: Optional[logging.Logger] = None) -> str:
 
     logger = logger or _LOGGER
     target_path = get_settings_file_path(create_dir=True)
+    preferred_dir = user_config_dir(APP_NAME, appauthor=False)
+    preferred_path = os.path.join(preferred_dir, "settings.json")
+
+    if os.path.abspath(target_path) != os.path.abspath(preferred_path):
+        os.makedirs(preferred_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        target_path = preferred_path
     legacy_path = get_legacy_settings_path()
 
     if os.path.exists(legacy_path) and not os.path.exists(target_path):