Comment 5 for bug 1220429

You may be interested in knowing the same thing happens with Quod Libet.

And specifically, the same thing happened to me when using Quod Libet:

 1) music on external, USB HDD;
 2) Playlist made with Quod Libet library of this disk;
 3) Over time...
4). One time opened Quod Libet before connected external HDD, QL erased the playlists as it erased the library.

So the offending routine, just to spell it out: check library - the device where it normally resides isn't there? Okay, erase the library then and any user content built from this library.

Three things to say about this.

1. This is likely a routine shared by multiple players - would someone be kind enough to identify what it is and assign this bug report accordingly?

2. The error seems to have arisen from a mistake in the program, er, logic. I.e. it might be assumed that if the library has been deleted then the player should remove that library's tracks from its records. But it does not similarly stand to reason that if the device is not there then the library has been deleted and is no longer needed.

3. The programmes fail to respect the emotional investment users make in their playlists. It's not just time. It's not just effort. It is often an activity conducted for the sake of someone or something. Whatever the reason, it is usually something of emotional value. It is therefore something that a programme should take particular care over.