This is not a bug in MATE itself. If the XDG_* variables are not set then it is not the receiving applications fault.
I have tested on Arch Linux with "proper" systemd 218-1 and the issue of file ownership in the the users `.config` home directory being changed to `root` is not present. I can reliably reproduce this on Ubuntu 14.04 running systemd-shim, so I can only assume the root cause lies in systemd-shim. ** Changed in: ubuntu-mate Status: Confirmed => Won't Fix -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to systemd-shim in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1374917 Title: After using sudo some files now owned by root Status in Ubuntu MATE: Won't Fix Status in systemd-shim package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: After I changed a file with sudo now include some files in my home directory root. axelw@work2:~$ sudo pluma /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf [sudo] password for axelw: ... edited and saved file ... axelw@work2:~$ find ./ -user root ./.cache/dconf/user ./.local/share/recently-used.xbel ./.config/dconf/user ./.config/pluma/pluma.ini To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mate/+bug/1374917/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp