MAME's folder structure
 

Hi all. I could use some help understanding the MAME linux (Ubuntu-based) folder structure better. In Windows, everything goes in the MAME folder, e.g. C:\MAME\. In contrast, in Linux Mint, I find the following:

• /usr/games [The MAME binary's location]
  
• ~/.mame ["Core Output" folders, i.e. cfg, diff, nvram, sta, ui, and the files ui.ini and mame.ini]
  
• /etc/mame [ini files, including another mame.ini]
  
• /usr/share/games/mame AND some are also in /usr/local/share/games/mame [Supporting folders, e.g. artwork, cheat, samples, etc.]

A couple questions:

1. Why are there two mame.ini files? Which one should I edit when I need to make changes?
   
2. The ui.ini file references folders that don't exist, but that I'd like to create, e.g. "marquees_directory {tab} marquees". In Windows, that means the the "marquees" folder goes in MAME's 'root' folder, i.e. C:\MAME\. There's no such MAME root folder for linux, so where is ui.ini looking for these folders?

The mame.ini and ui.ini files read like they're operating in a Windows environment, and I could really use help understanding how to interpret them for linux.

In general the /etc one is global initialization for all users, the one in your home dir is specific to you and should normally only contain the changes you want compared TO the global default. Mpstly all options will be commented out, for you to UNcomment and change when you want a different behaviour THEN the global (for all other users) one provides.
So you need to edit the /etc one if you want to change things for everyone, the one in .mame if it's only for you.

As I do not knwo mame I cannot respond to your other question(s).