Re: File copy system call proposal

[vda <vda@port.imtp.ilyichevsk.odessa.ua>]

On Sunday 09 December 2001 13:35, Pavel Machek wrote:
> > I would like to propose implementing a file copy system call.
> > I expect the initial reaction to such a proposal would be "feature
> > bloat" but I believe some substantial benefits can be seen possibly
> > making it worthwhile, primarily the following:
> >
> > Copy on write:
>
> You want cowlink() syscall, not copy() syscall. If they are on different
> partitions, let userspace do the job.

A filesystem with support of COW files would be *extremely* useful,
especially when writes trigger COW on block level, not file-by-file.

And it will definitely need in-kernel copyfile()/cowlink()/whatever name you 
want...

> > Will many other users benefit from these features?  Will implementing
> > them (especially copy on write) cause an excessive addition to the code
> > of the kernel?

> Hmm, I have almost 20 different copies of kernel on my systems.... Yep it
> would save me a *lot* of space.

Me too
--
vda