closed as no Content.

Set to "closed" on behalf of @franz-wohlkoenig by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/24140

Reopen it @franz-wohlkoenig i was just posting the content

Set to "open" on behalf of @franz-wohlkoenig by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/24140

This is the same behaviour in the site application right? I mean I'm not going to dispute it's odd behaviour but this is how the installer works with existing site and admin components too. https://github.com/joomla/joomla-cms/blob/staging/libraries/src/Installer/Adapter/ComponentAdapter.php#L208-L271

It has earlier been deemed a requirement that components all have an administrative client (in part because of code changes in 4.0 with conventions looking for things in that area). In theory, it is possible to create an admin only component, and there would definitely be components without an API element. So, having a cleanup routine to remove the frontend and API directories if unused would be a good idea to entertain.

I agree. My point is just we should treat the 'optional' directories the same (site and api)

I agree with of you @wilsonge and @mbabker , my idea was just related to the fact that historically Joomla had 2 applications, site and admin one. Now in J4 we introduced a third application.
However supposed that only a few and specialized components will have and will use this API application in the future, i think that it would be better to parse the XML manifest and create an api directory only if really needed by the extension. Obviously the same concept should be applied even to site and admin folders.

Set to "closed" on behalf of @jwaisner by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/24140

This discussion has ran its course. Closing as it has been many months since anything has been added.