Re: [RFC PATCH 1/1] vfs: Filemash fs

[Dave Chinner <david@fromorbit.com>]

On Mon, Apr 08, 2013 at 11:47:09AM +0800, Ram Pai wrote:
> On Sun, Apr 07, 2013 at 03:03:29PM +0400, Vyacheslav Dubeyko wrote:
> > Hi Ram,
> > 
> > On Apr 3, 2013, at 2:23 PM, Ram Pai wrote:
> > 
> > > The following patch implements a filesystem driver which provides the ability
> > > to mashup exisiting files in creative ways in-order to create new files.
> > > 
> > > Think of it as a way to union files; not filesystems.
> > > 
> > > Its a prototype idea with a prototype implementation.  Tested and working on
> > > 3.0.9-rc1.  I have included Documentation file which details the idea with
> > > examples and possible applications.
> > > 
> > > Any suggestions/ideas to make this useful and generally applicable is very much
> > > appreciated!
> > > 
> > 
> > Why do you think that your solution is better than LVM or RAID technologies?
> 
> Each has its own place. LVM/RAID lets you build block devices in
> creative ways. Filemashup lets you build files in creative ways.
> So both solutions have their own application which are not necessarily
> the same. Hence I can't say one is better than the other.
> 
> > 
> > I think that using mount options in your solution is weird way. Let's imagine a file that it will include a hundreds parts.
> 
> Well, I tried to mimic the same kind of approach used by overlayfs to
> union-mount directories. 
> 
> Yes. you are right. if you want to mashup hundreds of files, then you
> will have to provide all those hundred files on the command line, or you
> can put the options in /etc/fstab.  Can you think of a better approach?

Overlay-style filesystem that keeps the mashup information in
xattrs in the underlying files.

Cheers,

Dave.
-- 
Dave Chinner
david@fromorbit.com