From 8142e4a48a4447e07ac252025eb3cc84158b1ba4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Alexis=20M=C3=A9taireau?= <alexis@freedom.press>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:42:59 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] make dangerzone.settings a global

---
 dangerzone/gui/logic.py       |   4 +-
 dangerzone/gui/main_window.py |  78 +++++++++------------
 dangerzone/gui/updater.py     |  20 +++---
 dangerzone/logic.py           |   5 +-
 dangerzone/settings.py        | 127 +++++++++++++++++-----------------
 tests/conftest.py             |  21 ++++++
 tests/gui/conftest.py         |  15 ++--
 tests/gui/test_main_window.py |  54 +++++++--------
 tests/gui/test_updater.py     |  75 ++++++++++----------
 tests/test_settings.py        |  57 +++++----------
 10 files changed, 215 insertions(+), 241 deletions(-)

diff --git a/dangerzone/gui/logic.py b/dangerzone/gui/logic.py
index b8403b1..3ec4c77 100644
--- a/dangerzone/gui/logic.py
+++ b/dangerzone/gui/logic.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 from colorama import Fore
 
+from .. import settings
+
 # FIXME: See https://github.com/freedomofpress/dangerzone/issues/320 for more details.
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from PySide2 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ class DangerzoneGui(DangerzoneCore):
 
         elif platform.system() == "Linux":
             # Get the PDF reader command
-            args = shlex.split(self.pdf_viewers[self.settings.get("open_app")])
+            args = shlex.split(self.pdf_viewers[settings.get("open_app")])
             # %f, %F, %u, and %U are filenames or URLS -- so replace with the file to open
             for i in range(len(args)):
                 if (
diff --git a/dangerzone/gui/main_window.py b/dangerzone/gui/main_window.py
index 0adc9c2..8c3ea78 100644
--- a/dangerzone/gui/main_window.py
+++ b/dangerzone/gui/main_window.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from multiprocessing.pool import ThreadPool
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional
 
+from .. import settings
+
 # FIXME: See https://github.com/freedomofpress/dangerzone/issues/320 for more details.
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from PySide2 import QtCore, QtGui, QtSvg, QtWidgets
@@ -163,9 +165,7 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.toggle_updates_action = hamburger_menu.addAction("Check for updates")
         self.toggle_updates_action.triggered.connect(self.toggle_updates_triggered)
         self.toggle_updates_action.setCheckable(True)
-        self.toggle_updates_action.setChecked(
-            bool(self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_check"))
-        )
+        self.toggle_updates_action.setChecked(bool(settings.get("updater_check")))
 
         # Add the "Exit" action
         hamburger_menu.addSeparator()
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
 
     def show_update_success(self) -> None:
         """Inform the user about a new Dangerzone release."""
-        version = self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_latest_version")
-        changelog = self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_latest_changelog")
+        version = settings.get("updater_latest_version")
+        changelog = settings.get("updater_latest_changelog")
 
         changelog_widget = CollapsibleBox("What's New?")
         changelog_layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
     def toggle_updates_triggered(self) -> None:
         """Change the underlying update check settings based on the user's choice."""
         check = self.toggle_updates_action.isChecked()
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", check)
-        self.dangerzone.settings.save()
+        settings.set("updater_check", check)
+        settings.save()
 
     def handle_docker_desktop_version_check(
         self, is_version_valid: bool, version: str
@@ -328,16 +328,16 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         """
         # If there are no new updates, reset the error counter (if any) and return.
         if report.empty():
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", 0, autosave=True)
+            settings.set("updater_errors", 0, autosave=True)
             return
 
         hamburger_menu = self.hamburger_button.menu()
 
         if report.error:
             log.error(f"Encountered an error during an update check: {report.error}")
-            errors = self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_errors") + 1
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", errors)
-            self.dangerzone.settings.save()
+            errors = settings.get("updater_errors") + 1
+            settings.set("updater_errors", errors)
+            settings.save()
             self.updater_error = report.error
 
             # If we encounter more than three errors in a row, show a red notification
@@ -369,13 +369,13 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
             hamburger_menu.insertAction(sep, error_action)
         else:
             log.debug(f"Handling new version: {report.version}")
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_version", report.version)
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", report.changelog)
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", 0)
+            settings.set("updater_latest_version", report.version)
+            settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", report.changelog)
+            settings.set("updater_errors", 0)
 
             # FIXME: Save the settings to the filesystem only when they have really changed,
             # maybe with a dirty bit.
-            self.dangerzone.settings.save()
+            settings.save()
 
             self.hamburger_button.setIcon(
                 QtGui.QIcon(
@@ -985,39 +985,37 @@ class SettingsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         self.setLayout(layout)
 
         # Load values from settings
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("save"):
+        if settings.get("save"):
             self.save_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Checked)
         else:
             self.save_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Unchecked)
 
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("safe_extension"):
-            self.safe_extension.setText(self.dangerzone.settings.get("safe_extension"))
+        if settings.get("safe_extension"):
+            self.safe_extension.setText(settings.get("safe_extension"))
         else:
             self.safe_extension.setText(SAFE_EXTENSION)
 
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("archive"):
+        if settings.get("archive"):
             self.radio_move_untrusted.setChecked(True)
         else:
             self.radio_save_to.setChecked(True)
 
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("ocr"):
+        if settings.get("ocr"):
             self.ocr_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Checked)
         else:
             self.ocr_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Unchecked)
 
-        index = self.ocr_combobox.findText(self.dangerzone.settings.get("ocr_language"))
+        index = self.ocr_combobox.findText(settings.get("ocr_language"))
         if index != -1:
             self.ocr_combobox.setCurrentIndex(index)
 
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("open"):
+        if settings.get("open"):
             self.open_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Checked)
         else:
             self.open_checkbox.setCheckState(QtCore.Qt.Unchecked)
 
         if platform.system() == "Linux":
-            index = self.open_combobox.findText(
-                self.dangerzone.settings.get("open_app")
-            )
+            index = self.open_combobox.findText(settings.get("open_app"))
             if index != -1:
                 self.open_combobox.setCurrentIndex(index)
 
@@ -1138,21 +1136,15 @@ class SettingsWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
                 document.output_filename = tmp
 
         # Update settings
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set(
-            "save", self.save_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked
-        )
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set("safe_extension", self.safe_extension.text())
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set("archive", self.radio_move_untrusted.isChecked())
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set(
-            "ocr", self.ocr_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked
-        )
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set("ocr_language", self.ocr_combobox.currentText())
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set(
-            "open", self.open_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked
-        )
+        settings.set("save", self.save_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked)
+        settings.set("safe_extension", self.safe_extension.text())
+        settings.set("archive", self.radio_move_untrusted.isChecked())
+        settings.set("ocr", self.ocr_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked)
+        settings.set("ocr_language", self.ocr_combobox.currentText())
+        settings.set("open", self.open_checkbox.checkState() == QtCore.Qt.Checked)
         if platform.system() == "Linux":
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("open_app", self.open_combobox.currentText())
-        self.dangerzone.settings.save()
+            settings.set("open_app", self.open_combobox.currentText())
+        settings.save()
 
         # Start!
         self.start_clicked.emit()
@@ -1234,10 +1226,8 @@ class DocumentsListWidget(QtWidgets.QListWidget):
 
     def get_ocr_lang(self) -> Optional[str]:
         ocr_lang = None
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("ocr"):
-            ocr_lang = self.dangerzone.ocr_languages[
-                self.dangerzone.settings.get("ocr_language")
-            ]
+        if settings.get("ocr"):
+            ocr_lang = self.dangerzone.ocr_languages[settings.get("ocr_language")]
         return ocr_lang
 
 
@@ -1326,7 +1316,7 @@ class DocumentWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
             return
 
         # Open
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("open"):
+        if settings.get("open"):
             self.dangerzone.open_pdf_viewer(self.document.output_filename)
 
 
diff --git a/dangerzone/gui/updater.py b/dangerzone/gui/updater.py
index 396de21..26a7f0d 100644
--- a/dangerzone/gui/updater.py
+++ b/dangerzone/gui/updater.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 from packaging import version
 
+from .. import settings
+
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from PySide2 import QtCore, QtWidgets
 else:
@@ -126,11 +128,11 @@ class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
 
     @property
     def check(self) -> Optional[bool]:
-        return self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_check")
+        return settings.get("updater_check")
 
     @check.setter
     def check(self, val: bool) -> None:
-        self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", val, autosave=True)
+        settings.set("updater_check", val, autosave=True)
 
     def prompt_for_checks(self) -> Optional[bool]:
         """Ask the user if they want to be informed about Dangerzone updates."""
@@ -169,9 +171,9 @@ class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
                 return False
 
         log.debug("Checking if first run of Dangerzone")
-        if self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check") is None:
+        if settings.get("updater_last_check") is None:
             log.debug("Dangerzone is running for the first time, updates are stalled")
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0, autosave=True)
+            settings.set("updater_last_check", 0, autosave=True)
             return False
 
         log.debug("Checking if user has already expressed their preference")
@@ -204,7 +206,7 @@ class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
         again.
         """
         current_time = self._get_now_timestamp()
-        last_check = self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check")
+        last_check = settings.get("updater_last_check")
         if current_time < last_check + UPDATE_CHECK_COOLDOWN_SECS:
             log.debug("Cooling down update checks")
             return True
@@ -256,12 +258,12 @@ class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
         2. In GitHub, by hitting the latest releases API.
         """
         log.debug("Checking for Dangerzone updates")
-        latest_version = self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_latest_version")
+        latest_version = settings.get("updater_latest_version")
         if version.parse(get_version()) < version.parse(latest_version):
             log.debug("Determined that there is an update due to cached results")
             return UpdateReport(
                 version=latest_version,
-                changelog=self.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_latest_changelog"),
+                changelog=settings.get("updater_latest_changelog"),
             )
 
         # If the previous check happened before the cooldown period expires, do not
@@ -271,9 +273,7 @@ class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
         if self._should_postpone_update_check():
             return UpdateReport()
         else:
-            self.dangerzone.settings.set(
-                "updater_last_check", self._get_now_timestamp(), autosave=True
-            )
+            settings.set("updater_last_check", self._get_now_timestamp(), autosave=True)
 
         log.debug("Checking the latest GitHub release")
         report = self.get_latest_info()
diff --git a/dangerzone/logic.py b/dangerzone/logic.py
index 74884af..47e6ecf 100644
--- a/dangerzone/logic.py
+++ b/dangerzone/logic.py
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@ from typing import Callable, List, Optional
 
 import colorama
 
-from . import errors, util
+from . import errors, settings, util
 from .document import Document
 from .isolation_provider.base import IsolationProvider
-from .settings import Settings
 from .util import get_resource_path
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -28,8 +27,6 @@ class DangerzoneCore(object):
             unsorted_ocr_languages = json.load(f)
             self.ocr_languages = dict(sorted(unsorted_ocr_languages.items()))
 
-        # Load settings
-        self.settings = Settings()
         self.documents: List[Document] = []
         self.isolation_provider = isolation_provider
 
diff --git a/dangerzone/settings.py b/dangerzone/settings.py
index 4c8b939..52fb8aa 100644
--- a/dangerzone/settings.py
+++ b/dangerzone/settings.py
@@ -10,81 +10,78 @@ from .util import get_config_dir, get_version
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-SETTINGS_FILENAME: str = "settings.json"
+FILENAME = get_config_dir() / "settings.json"
+
+SETTINGS: dict = {}
 
 
-class Settings:
-    settings: Dict[str, Any]
+def generate_default_settings() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "save": True,
+        "archive": True,
+        "ocr": True,
+        "ocr_language": "English",
+        "open": True,
+        "open_app": None,
+        "safe_extension": SAFE_EXTENSION,
+        "updater_check": None,
+        "updater_last_check": None,  # last check in UNIX epoch (secs since 1970)
+        # FIXME: How to invalidate those if they change upstream?
+        "updater_latest_version": get_version(),
+        "updater_latest_changelog": "",
+        "updater_errors": 0,
+    }
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
-        self.settings_filename = get_config_dir() / SETTINGS_FILENAME
-        self.default_settings: Dict[str, Any] = self.generate_default_settings()
-        self.load()
 
-    @classmethod
-    def generate_default_settings(cls) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        return {
-            "save": True,
-            "archive": True,
-            "ocr": True,
-            "ocr_language": "English",
-            "open": True,
-            "open_app": None,
-            "safe_extension": SAFE_EXTENSION,
-            "updater_check": None,
-            "updater_last_check": None,  # last check in UNIX epoch (secs since 1970)
-            # FIXME: How to invalidate those if they change upstream?
-            "updater_latest_version": get_version(),
-            "updater_latest_changelog": "",
-            "updater_errors": 0,
-        }
+def get(key: str) -> Any:
+    return SETTINGS[key]
 
-    def get(self, key: str) -> Any:
-        return self.settings[key]
 
-    def set(self, key: str, val: Any, autosave: bool = False) -> None:
+def set(key: str, val: Any, autosave: bool = False) -> None:
+    global SETTINGS
+    try:
+        old_val = SETTINGS.get(key)
+    except KeyError:
+        old_val = None
+    SETTINGS[key] = val
+    if autosave and val != old_val:
+        save()
+
+
+def get_updater_settings() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {key: val for key, val in SETTINGS.items() if key.startswith("updater_")}
+
+
+def load() -> None:
+    global SETTINGS
+    default_settings = generate_default_settings()
+    if FILENAME.is_file() and FILENAME.exists():
+        # If the settings file exists, load it
         try:
-            old_val = self.get(key)
-        except KeyError:
-            old_val = None
-        self.settings[key] = val
-        if autosave and val != old_val:
-            self.save()
+            with FILENAME.open("r") as settings_file:
+                SETTINGS = json.load(settings_file)
 
-    def get_updater_settings(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        return {
-            key: val for key, val in self.settings.items() if key.startswith("updater_")
-        }
+            # If it's missing any fields, add them from the default settings
+            for key in default_settings:
+                if key not in SETTINGS:
+                    SETTINGS[key] = default_settings[key]
+                elif key == "updater_latest_version":
+                    if version.parse(get_version()) > version.parse(get(key)):
+                        set(key, get_version())
 
-    def load(self) -> None:
-        if os.path.isfile(self.settings_filename):
-            self.settings = self.default_settings
+        except Exception:
+            log.error("Error loading settings, falling back to default")
+            SETTINGS = default_settings
 
-            # If the settings file exists, load it
-            try:
-                with open(self.settings_filename, "r") as settings_file:
-                    self.settings = json.load(settings_file)
+    else:
+        # Save with default settings
+        log.info("Settings file doesn't exist, starting with default")
+        SETTINGS = default_settings
 
-                # If it's missing any fields, add them from the default settings
-                for key in self.default_settings:
-                    if key not in self.settings:
-                        self.settings[key] = self.default_settings[key]
-                    elif key == "updater_latest_version":
-                        if version.parse(get_version()) > version.parse(self.get(key)):
-                            self.set(key, get_version())
+    save()
 
-            except Exception:
-                log.error("Error loading settings, falling back to default")
-                self.settings = self.default_settings
 
-        else:
-            # Save with default settings
-            log.info("Settings file doesn't exist, starting with default")
-            self.settings = self.default_settings
-
-        self.save()
-
-    def save(self) -> None:
-        self.settings_filename.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        with self.settings_filename.open("w") as settings_file:
-            json.dump(self.settings, settings_file, indent=4)
+def save() -> None:
+    FILENAME.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    with FILENAME.open("w") as settings_file:
+        json.dump(SETTINGS, settings_file, indent=4)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3bef1af..3b80cd7 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Callable, List
 
 import pytest
+from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 
 from dangerzone.document import SAFE_EXTENSION
 from dangerzone.gui import Application
@@ -111,6 +112,26 @@ def sample_pdf() -> str:
     return str(test_docs_dir.joinpath(BASIC_SAMPLE_PDF))
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_settings(mocker: MockerFixture, tmp_path: Path) -> Path:
+    mocker.patch("dangerzone.settings.FILENAME", tmp_path / "settings.json")
+    return tmp_path
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def default_settings_0_4_1() -> dict:
+    """Get the default settings for the 0.4.1 Dangerzone release."""
+    return {
+        "save": True,
+        "archive": True,
+        "ocr": True,
+        "ocr_language": "English",
+        "open": True,
+        "open_app": None,
+        "safe_extension": "-safe.pdf",
+    }
+
+
 SAMPLE_DIRECTORY = "test_docs"
 BASIC_SAMPLE_PDF = "sample-pdf.pdf"
 BASIC_SAMPLE_DOC = "sample-doc.doc"
diff --git a/tests/gui/conftest.py b/tests/gui/conftest.py
index cbf49de..efcf69d 100644
--- a/tests/gui/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/gui/conftest.py
@@ -30,25 +30,20 @@ def generate_isolated_updater(
     else:
         app = get_qt_app()
 
-    dummy = Dummy()
-    # XXX: We can monkey-patch global state without wrapping it in a context manager, or
-    # worrying that it will leak between tests, for two reasons:
-    #
-    # 1. Parallel tests in PyTest take place in different processes.
-    # 2. The monkeypatch fixture tears down the monkey-patch after each test ends.
-    monkeypatch.setattr(util, "get_config_dir", lambda: tmp_path)
-    dangerzone = DangerzoneGui(app, isolation_provider=dummy)
+    dangerzone = DangerzoneGui(app, isolation_provider=Dummy())
     updater = UpdaterThread(dangerzone)
     return updater
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def updater(
-    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch, mocker: MockerFixture
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch, mocker: MockerFixture, mock_settings: Path
 ) -> UpdaterThread:
     return generate_isolated_updater(tmp_path, monkeypatch, mocker)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def qt_updater(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> UpdaterThread:
+def qt_updater(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch, mock_settings: Path
+) -> UpdaterThread:
     return generate_isolated_updater(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
diff --git a/tests/gui/test_main_window.py b/tests/gui/test_main_window.py
index e4fc127..11b1f8f 100644
--- a/tests/gui/test_main_window.py
+++ b/tests/gui/test_main_window.py
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ import pathlib
 import platform
 import shutil
 import time
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List
 
 from pytest import MonkeyPatch, fixture
 from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 from pytestqt.qtbot import QtBot
 
-from dangerzone import errors
+from dangerzone import errors, settings
 from dangerzone.document import Document
 from dangerzone.gui import MainWindow
 from dangerzone.gui import main_window as main_window_module
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ def test_default_menu(
     updater: UpdaterThread,
 ) -> None:
     """Check that the default menu entries are in order."""
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", True)
+    settings.set("updater_check", True)
 
     window = MainWindow(updater.dangerzone)
     menu_actions = window.hamburger_button.menu().actions()
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ def test_default_menu(
 
     toggle_updates_action.trigger()
     assert not toggle_updates_action.isChecked()
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_check") is False
+    assert settings.get("updater_check") is False
 
 
 def test_no_update(
@@ -127,9 +128,9 @@ def test_no_update(
     # Check that when no update is detected, e.g., due to update cooldown, an empty
     # report is received that does not affect the menu entries.
     curtime = int(time.time())
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", True)
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", 9)
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", curtime)
+    settings.set("updater_check", True)
+    settings.set("updater_errors", 9)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", curtime)
 
     expected_settings = default_updater_settings()
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = True
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ def test_no_update(
     assert menu_actions_before == menu_actions_after
 
     # Check that any previous update errors are cleared.
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
 
 def test_update_detected(
@@ -165,9 +166,9 @@ def test_update_detected(
 ) -> None:
     """Test that a newly detected version leads to a notification to the user."""
 
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", True)
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", 9)
+    settings.set("updater_check", True)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_errors", 9)
 
     # Make requests.get().json() return the following dictionary.
     mock_upstream_info = {"tag_name": "99.9.9", "body": "changelog"}
@@ -197,13 +198,11 @@ def test_update_detected(
     # Check that the settings have been updated properly.
     expected_settings = default_updater_settings()
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = True
-    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get(
-        "updater_last_check"
-    )
+    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = settings.get("updater_last_check")
     expected_settings["updater_latest_version"] = "99.9.9"
     expected_settings["updater_latest_changelog"] = "<p>changelog</p>"
     expected_settings["updater_errors"] = 0
-    assert qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Check that the hamburger icon has changed with the expected SVG image.
     assert load_svg_spy.call_count == 2
@@ -228,7 +227,7 @@ def test_update_detected(
     update_dialog_spy = mocker.spy(main_window_module, "UpdateDialog")
 
     def check_dialog() -> None:
-        dialog = qt_updater.dangerzone.app.activeWindow()
+        dialog = qt_app.activeWindow()
 
         update_dialog_spy.assert_called_once()
         kwargs = update_dialog_spy.call_args.kwargs
@@ -274,12 +273,13 @@ def test_update_error(
     qt_updater: UpdaterThread,
     monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch,
     mocker: MockerFixture,
+    mock_settings: Path,
 ) -> None:
     """Test that an error during an update check leads to a notification to the user."""
     # Test 1 - Check that the first error does not notify the user.
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", True)
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_errors", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_check", True)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_errors", 0)
 
     # Make requests.get() return an errorthe following dictionary.
     mocker.patch("dangerzone.gui.updater.requests.get")
@@ -305,11 +305,9 @@ def test_update_error(
     # Check that the settings have been updated properly.
     expected_settings = default_updater_settings()
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = True
-    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get(
-        "updater_last_check"
-    )
+    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = settings.get("updater_last_check")
     expected_settings["updater_errors"] += 1
-    assert qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Check that the hamburger icon has not changed.
     assert load_svg_spy.call_count == 0
@@ -318,7 +316,7 @@ def test_update_error(
     assert menu_actions_before == menu_actions_after
 
     # Test 2 - Check that the second error does not notify the user either.
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
     with qtbot.waitSignal(qt_updater.finished):
         qt_updater.start()
 
@@ -326,16 +324,14 @@ def test_update_error(
 
     # Check that the settings have been updated properly.
     expected_settings["updater_errors"] += 1
-    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get(
-        "updater_last_check"
-    )
-    assert qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = settings.get("updater_last_check")
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Check that no menu entries have been added.
     assert menu_actions_before == menu_actions_after
 
     # Test 3 - Check that a third error shows a new menu entry.
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
     with qtbot.waitSignal(qt_updater.finished):
         qt_updater.start()
 
@@ -360,7 +356,7 @@ def test_update_error(
     update_dialog_spy = mocker.spy(main_window_module, "UpdateDialog")
 
     def check_dialog() -> None:
-        dialog = qt_updater.dangerzone.app.activeWindow()
+        dialog = qt_app.activeWindow()
 
         update_dialog_spy.assert_called_once()
         kwargs = update_dialog_spy.call_args.kwargs
diff --git a/tests/gui/test_updater.py b/tests/gui/test_updater.py
index 430a621..f1d3017 100644
--- a/tests/gui/test_updater.py
+++ b/tests/gui/test_updater.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ from dangerzone.gui import updater as updater_module
 from dangerzone.gui.updater import UpdateReport, UpdaterThread
 from dangerzone.util import get_version
 
-from ..test_settings import default_settings_0_4_1, save_settings
 from .conftest import generate_isolated_updater
 
 
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ def default_updater_settings() -> dict:
     """
     return {
         key: val
-        for key, val in settings.Settings.generate_default_settings().items()
+        for key, val in settings.generate_default_settings().items()
         if key.startswith("updater_")
     }
 
@@ -43,13 +42,15 @@ def test_default_updater_settings(updater: UpdaterThread) -> None:
 
     This test is mostly a sanity check.
     """
-    assert (
-        updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == default_updater_settings()
-    )
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == default_updater_settings()
 
 
 def test_pre_0_4_2_settings(
-    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch, mocker: MockerFixture
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch,
+    mocker: MockerFixture,
+    mock_settings: Path,
+    default_settings_0_4_1: dict,
 ) -> None:
     """Check settings of installations prior to 0.4.2.
 
@@ -57,11 +58,10 @@ def test_pre_0_4_2_settings(
     will automatically get the default updater settings, even though they never existed
     in their settings.json file.
     """
-    save_settings(tmp_path, default_settings_0_4_1())
+    settings.SETTINGS = default_settings_0_4_1
+    settings.save()
     updater = generate_isolated_updater(tmp_path, monkeypatch, mocker)
-    assert (
-        updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == default_updater_settings()
-    )
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == default_updater_settings()
 
 
 def test_post_0_4_2_settings(
@@ -75,9 +75,8 @@ def test_post_0_4_2_settings(
     erroneously prompted to a version they already have.
     """
     # Store the settings of Dangerzone 0.4.2 to the filesystem.
-    old_settings = settings.Settings.generate_default_settings()
-    old_settings["updater_latest_version"] = "0.4.2"
-    save_settings(tmp_path, old_settings)
+    settings.SETTINGS = settings.generate_default_settings()
+    settings.set("updater_latest_version", "0.4.2", autosave=True)
 
     # Mimic an upgrade to version 0.4.3, by making Dangerzone report that the current
     # version is 0.4.3.
@@ -89,19 +88,17 @@ def test_post_0_4_2_settings(
 
     # Ensure that the Settings class will correct the latest version field to 0.4.3.
     updater = generate_isolated_updater(tmp_path, monkeypatch, mocker)
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Simulate an updater check that found a newer Dangerzone version (e.g., 0.4.4).
     expected_settings["updater_latest_version"] = "0.4.4"
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set(
-        "updater_latest_version", expected_settings["updater_latest_version"]
-    )
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.save()
+    settings.set("updater_latest_version", expected_settings["updater_latest_version"])
+    settings.save()
 
     # Ensure that the Settings class will leave the "updater_latest_version" field
     # intact the next time we reload the settings.
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.load()
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    settings.load()
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(platform.system() != "Linux", reason="Linux-only test")
@@ -115,7 +112,7 @@ def test_linux_no_check(updater: UpdaterThread, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> Non
     monkeypatch.delattr(sys, "dangerzone_dev")
 
     assert updater.should_check_for_updates() is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
 
 def test_user_prompts(
@@ -130,7 +127,7 @@ def test_user_prompts(
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = None
     expected_settings["updater_last_check"] = 0
     assert updater.should_check_for_updates() is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Second run
     #
@@ -144,14 +141,14 @@ def test_user_prompts(
     prompt_mock().launch.return_value = False  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = False
     assert updater.should_check_for_updates() is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Reset the "updater_check" field and check enabling update checks.
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", None)
+    settings.set("updater_check", None)
     prompt_mock().launch.return_value = True  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
     expected_settings["updater_check"] = True
     assert updater.should_check_for_updates() is True
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
+    assert settings.get_updater_settings() == expected_settings
 
     # Third run
     #
@@ -159,7 +156,7 @@ def test_user_prompts(
     # checks.
     prompt_mock().side_effect = RuntimeError("Should not be called")  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
     for check in [True, False]:
-        updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", check)
+        settings.set("updater_check", check)
         assert updater.should_check_for_updates() == check
 
 
@@ -200,8 +197,8 @@ def test_update_checks(
     assert_report_equal(report, UpdateReport(error=error_msg))
 
     # Test 4 - Check that cached version/changelog info do not trigger an update check.
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_version", "99.9.9")
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", "<p>changelog</p>")
+    settings.set("updater_latest_version", "99.9.9")
+    settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", "<p>changelog</p>")
 
     report = updater.check_for_updates()
     assert_report_equal(
@@ -211,8 +208,8 @@ def test_update_checks(
 
 def test_update_checks_cooldown(updater: UpdaterThread, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     """Make sure Dangerzone only checks for updates every X hours"""
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_check", True)
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    settings.set("updater_check", True)
+    settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
 
     # Mock some functions before the tests start
     cooldown_spy = mocker.spy(updater, "_should_postpone_update_check")
@@ -233,7 +230,7 @@ def test_update_checks_cooldown(updater: UpdaterThread, mocker: MockerFixture) -
 
     report = updater.check_for_updates()
     assert cooldown_spy.spy_return is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
+    assert settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
     assert_report_equal(report, UpdateReport("99.9.9", "<p>changelog</p>"))
 
     # Test 2: Advance the current time by 1 second, and ensure that no update will take
@@ -242,12 +239,12 @@ def test_update_checks_cooldown(updater: UpdaterThread, mocker: MockerFixture) -
     curtime += 1
     timestamp_mock.return_value = curtime
     requests_mock.side_effect = Exception("failed")  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_version", get_version())
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", None)
+    settings.set("updater_latest_version", get_version())
+    settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", None)
 
     report = updater.check_for_updates()
     assert cooldown_spy.spy_return is True
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime - 1  # type: ignore [unreachable]
+    assert settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime - 1  # type: ignore [unreachable]
     assert_report_equal(report, UpdateReport())
 
     # Test 3: Advance the current time by <cooldown period> seconds. Ensure that
@@ -258,14 +255,14 @@ def test_update_checks_cooldown(updater: UpdaterThread, mocker: MockerFixture) -
 
     report = updater.check_for_updates()
     assert cooldown_spy.spy_return is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
+    assert settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
     assert_report_equal(report, UpdateReport("99.9.9", "<p>changelog</p>"))
 
     # Test 4: Make Dangerzone check for updates again, but this time, it should
     # encounter an error while doing so. In that case, the last check timestamp
     # should be bumped, so that subsequent checks don't take place.
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_version", get_version())
-    updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", None)
+    settings.set("updater_latest_version", get_version())
+    settings.set("updater_latest_changelog", None)
 
     curtime += updater_module.UPDATE_CHECK_COOLDOWN_SECS
     timestamp_mock.return_value = curtime
@@ -273,7 +270,7 @@ def test_update_checks_cooldown(updater: UpdaterThread, mocker: MockerFixture) -
 
     report = updater.check_for_updates()
     assert cooldown_spy.spy_return is False
-    assert updater.dangerzone.settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
+    assert settings.get("updater_last_check") == curtime
     error_msg = (
         f"Encountered an exception while checking {updater.GH_RELEASE_URL}: failed"
     )
@@ -375,7 +372,7 @@ def test_update_check_prompt(
 ) -> None:
     """Test that the prompt to enable update checks works properly."""
     # Force Dangerzone to check immediately for updates
-    qt_updater.dangerzone.settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
+    qt_settings.set("updater_last_check", 0)
 
     # Test 1 - Check that on the second run of Dangerzone, the user is prompted to
     # choose if they want to enable update checks.
diff --git a/tests/test_settings.py b/tests/test_settings.py
index 87e20ec..16689e6 100644
--- a/tests/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/test_settings.py
@@ -5,50 +5,33 @@ from unittest.mock import PropertyMock
 import pytest
 from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 
-from dangerzone.settings import SETTINGS_FILENAME, Settings
-
-
-def default_settings_0_4_1() -> dict:
-    """Get the default settings for the 0.4.1 Dangerzone release."""
-    return {
-        "save": True,
-        "archive": True,
-        "ocr": True,
-        "ocr_language": "English",
-        "open": True,
-        "open_app": None,
-        "safe_extension": "-safe.pdf",
-    }
+from dangerzone import settings
 
 
 def test_no_settings_file_creates_new_one(
-    tmp_path: Path,
-    mocker: MockerFixture,
+    mock_settings: Path,
 ) -> None:
     """Default settings file is created on first run"""
-    mocker.patch("dangerzone.settings.get_config_dir", return_value=tmp_path)
-    settings = Settings()
+    settings.load()
+    assert settings.FILENAME.is_file()
 
-    assert settings.settings_filename.is_file()
-    with settings.settings_filename.open() as settings_file:
+    with settings.FILENAME.open() as settings_file:
         new_settings_dict = json.load(settings_file)
         assert sorted(new_settings_dict.items()) == sorted(
             settings.generate_default_settings().items()
         )
 
 
-def test_corrupt_settings(tmp_path: Path, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
+def test_corrupt_settings(mocker: MockerFixture, mock_settings: Path) -> None:
     # Set some broken settings file
     corrupt_settings_dict = "{:}"
-    with (tmp_path / SETTINGS_FILENAME).open("w") as settings_file:
+    with settings.FILENAME.open("w") as settings_file:
         settings_file.write(corrupt_settings_dict)
 
-    mocker.patch("dangerzone.settings.get_config_dir", return_value=tmp_path)
-    settings = Settings()
-    assert settings.settings_filename.is_file()
-
+    assert settings.FILENAME.is_file()
+    settings.load()
     # Check if settings file was reset to the default
-    new_settings_dict = json.load(open(settings.settings_filename))
+    new_settings_dict = json.load(open(settings.FILENAME))
     assert new_settings_dict != corrupt_settings_dict
     assert sorted(new_settings_dict.items()) == sorted(
         settings.generate_default_settings().items()
@@ -56,32 +39,28 @@ def test_corrupt_settings(tmp_path: Path, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
 
 
 def test_new_default_setting(tmp_path: Path, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
-    settings = Settings()
+    mocker.patch("dangerzone.settings.get_config_dir", return_value=tmp_path)
     settings.save()
 
     # Ensure new default setting is imported into settings
     mocker.patch(
-        "dangerzone.settings.Settings.generate_default_settings",
+        "dangerzone.settings.generate_default_settings",
         return_value={"mock_setting": 1},
     )
-
-    settings2 = Settings()
-    assert settings2.get("mock_setting") == 1
+    settings.load()
+    assert settings.get("mock_setting") == 1
 
 
 def test_new_settings_added(tmp_path: Path, mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
-    settings = Settings()
-
+    mocker.patch("dangerzone.settings.get_config_dir", return_value=tmp_path)
     # Add new setting
     settings.set("new_setting_autosaved", 20, autosave=True)
     settings.set(
         "new_setting", 10
     )  # XXX has to be afterwards; otherwise this will be saved
 
-    # Simulate new app startup (settings recreation)
-    settings2 = Settings()
-
+    settings.load()
     # Check if new setting persisted
-    assert 20 == settings2.get("new_setting_autosaved")
+    assert 20 == settings.get("new_setting_autosaved")
     with pytest.raises(KeyError):
-        settings2.get("new_setting")
+        settings.get("new_setting")