Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 4th Nov 2009 16:48 UTC
Linux continues to innovate in the area of file systems. It supports the largest variety of file systems of any operating system. It also provides cutting-edge file system technology. Two new file systems that are making their way into Linux include the NiLFS(2) log-structured file system and the exofs object-based storage system. Discover the purpose behind these two new file systems and the advantages that they bring.
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RE: Why all the filesystems.
by TechGeek on Wed 4th Nov 2009 17:19
in reply to "Why all the filesystems."
Member since:2006-01-14
You miss the point that filesystems are actually an important part of any OS. Different filesystems do different things well. And really, most of the filesystems in Linux are there for compatibility with other systems. Most distros use the ext series. Besides btrfs, what other filesystems were created explicitly for Linux?
RE[2]: Why all the filesystems.
by Tsukasa on Wed 4th Nov 2009 18:05
in reply to "RE: Why all the filesystems."
Member since:2006-05-15
RE: Why all the filesystems.
by Praxis on Wed 4th Nov 2009 17:27
in reply to "Why all the filesystems."
Member since:2009-09-17
well behind most of these file systems are some pretty major companies, I think its safe to say that Oracle and IBM aren't just developing these things for the heck of it. One thing to keep in mind is that it takes a long time to properly develop a file system that people will trust with their data, so you need to start creating these things about 5-7 years before you think you will need it.
RE: Why all the filesystems.
by Delgarde on Wed 4th Nov 2009 20:44
in reply to "Why all the filesystems."
Member since:2008-08-19
I can see a new modern file system every 10 years or so. However most other OS's put there efforts elsewhere. I think Linux should too. I think it is a case that File Systems are fun to design and program. However there are areas that are much more annoying to design and code that needs to be addressed.
Right, but what do you mean, "Linux should put it's efforts elsewhere"? Linux isn't a person or organisation - it's a piece of software developed by a bunch of individuals all working for their own (or their employers) different purposes.
Reading the article, these two filesystems appear to have been contributed by companies who presumably needed new filesystems for whatever reason. So it's not exactly productive to tell those people they should have been working on something else instead.
For better or worse, that's the open-source way - people work on whatever they want to work on. It's what you get, when all of your contributors are volunteers.
RE[2]: Why all the filesystems.
by strcpy on Wed 4th Nov 2009 20:50
in reply to "RE: Why all the filesystems."
RE: Why all the filesystems.
by glarepate on Fri 6th Nov 2009 04:54
in reply to "Why all the filesystems."
Member since:2006-01-04
However there are areas that are much more annoying to design and code that needs to be addressed.
And who should be assigned to "fix" those areas?
I'm presuming that you have other things to do and see your contribution as pointing out the need for work on the [unspecified] design and code areas.
How will you ensure that those important areas are addressed, much less addressed effectively and sustainably? Do you have a suggestion on how someone else might accomplish or even supervise those assigned to the needed work? [In my own mind] I'm not complaining about you complaining, just wondering what you see as solutions to the problem of people working on what they like rather than what may be essential to the over all good of the OS.
Features
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OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/15/13 22:44 UTC
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2005-09-27
This is something I never really get about Linux... Its fascination of Filesystems.
I can see a new modern file system every 10 years or so. However most other OS's put there efforts elsewhere. I think Linux should too. I think it is a case that File Systems are fun to design and program. However there are areas that are much more annoying to design and code that needs to be addressed.