Re: silent semantic changes with reiser4

Alex Zarochentsev
2004-08-30T14:18:49Z

On Fri, Aug 27, 2004 at 11:18:55AM +0200, Giuliano Pochini wrote:
>
> On 26-Aug-2004 Linus Torvalds wrote:
>
> > I advocated (long ago) something like this for /dev handling, just because
> > I think it would make sense to have
> >
> > /dev/hda <- special file
> > /dev/hda/part1 <- partition 1 (aka /dev/hda1)
>
> This breaks the r4 semantics if I understood it correctly.

Reiser4 currently links /metas/ directory under each reiser4 fs object.
Reiser4 "silently" allows regular file to be a directory for that.

That is only an example how an fs object may link its internal hierarchical
structure to the fs tree. /dev/hda/-as-a-dir is another example, but, I am
afraid, it is not a reiser4 business to look into the devices. Devfs or its
successor may do it.

> Because
> /partN are not simply associated to the file, they are part of the
> file. ie. when I modify /dev/hda I also change /dev/hda/partN and
> vice-versa. I don't see any pratical problem, though.
>
>
> > Still, I really do like the idea of merging the notion of file and
> > directory into one notion of "container". I absolutely _detest_ files with
> > internal structure that tools have to know about (ie I hate seeing all
> > those embedded formats that I can't use "grep" on - MIME being one case).
> > I'd much rather see a "group of files" and a "file with a grouping of
> > information".
>
> You're actually looking for a database with a legacy fs-like interface :)
>
>
> --
> Giuliano.

--
Alex.