The Hairy State of Linux Filesystems 187
RazvanM writes "Do the OSes really shrink? Perhaps the user space (MySQL, CUPS) is getting slimmer, but how about the internals? Using as a metric the number of external calls between the filesystem modules and the rest of the Linux kernel I argue that this is not the case. The evidence is a graph that shows the evolution of 15 filesystems from 2.6.11 to 2.6.28 along with the current state (2.6.28) for 24 filesystems. Some filesystems that stand out are: nfs for leading in both number of calls and speed of growth; ext4 and fuse for their above-average speed of growth and 9p for its roller coaster path."
At least Reiser (Score:5, Funny)
got to make one call...
Where's NTFS ? (Score:5, Funny)
You are kidding arent you ?
Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows underneath it, at all ? As in, without a boot disk, without any drivers, and without any services ?
That sounds preposterous to me.
If it were true (and I doubt it), then companies would be selling computers without a windows. This clearly is not happening, so there must be some error in your calculations. I hope you realise that windows is more than just Office ? Its a whole system that runs the computer from start to finish, and that is a very difficult thing to acheive. A lot of people dont realise this.
Microsoft just spent $9 billion and many years to create Vista, so it does not sound reasonable that some new alternative could just snap into existence overnight like that. It would take billions of dollars and a massive effort to achieve. IBM tried, and spent a huge amount of money developing OS/2 but could never keep up with Windows. Apple tried to create their own system for years, but finally gave up recently and moved to Intel and Microsoft.
Its just not possible that a freeware like the Linux could be extended to the point where it runs the entire computer fron start to finish, without using some of the more critical parts of windows. Not possible.
I think you need to re-examine your assumptions.
The state (Score:5, Funny)
The state of Linux filesystems may be in disarray, but it's nothing to kill your wife over...
*rimshot*
Re:Do the number of calls really matter? (Score:0, Funny)
Linux just isn't ready for the desktop yet. It may be ready for the web servers that you nerds use to distribute your TRON fanzines and personal Dungeons and Dragons web-sights across the world wide web, but the average computer user isn't going to spend months learning how to use a CLI and then hours compiling packages so that they can get a workable graphic interface to check their mail with, especially not when they already have a Windows machine that does its job perfectly well and is backed by a major corporation, as opposed to Linux which is only supported by a few unemployed nerds living in their mother's basement somewhere. The last thing I want is a level 5 dwarf (haha) providing me my OS.
Re:Where's NTFS ? (Score:5, Funny)
Dude Microsoft is giving up on NTFS for WinFS with Windows 7.0. Get your facts straight before you start to character assassinate an operating system. WinFS was to be a part of Vista, but Microsoft removed it before the retail version in order to meet deadlines.
Did you know that Linux has limited NTFS support? I usually have to create a FAT32 partition to copy files between Windows XP and Linux. NTFS is usually read only or not available. Pfffssssttt!
Just like wine, Microsoft will not release a finished product before its time.
Re:Where's NTFS ? (Score:5, Funny)
In Linux, the open office might be the default for editing your wordfiles, and you might prefer ubuntu brown over the grassy knoll of the windows desktop, but mark my words young man - without the windows drivers sitting below the visible surface, allowing the linus to talk to the hardware, it is without worth.
And so, by choosing your linux as an alternative to windows on the desktop, you still need a windows licence to run this operating system through the windows drivers to talk to the hardware. Linux is only a code, it cannot perform the low level function.
My point being, young man, that unless you intend to pirate and steal the Windows drivers and services, how is using the linux going to save money ? Well ? It seems that no linux fan can ever provide a straight answer to that question !
May as well just stay legal, run the Windows drivers, and run Office on the desktop instead of the linus.
Re:At least Reiser (Score:4, Funny)
Reiserlazer (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Check out Tux3 (Score:4, Funny)
Let us count the number of fast, slim projects have been sucked down this way...
/ext2fs fanatic
//I can shredses the files... yes I can, and I know it will workses...
Programmer: "This shit is bloated. I'm starting a new project that will be slim and fast"
<type type type>
<build build make>
User 1: "This is really nice and fast, but I need feature X"
<add add add>
Users 2 & 3: "I'd use it, but I really love $OTHER_PROGRAM's Y"
Programmer: "Grrr..."
<add add add>
User 4: "I've heard that Z is doing $SPIFFY, why doesn't this do that?"
<type type add add add add build>
User 5: "This is all big and slow and bloated... I'm going with N instead..."
Programmer: "Fuck you! Fuck you all motherfuckers!"
Not to say that Tux3 will go or is going this way. Indeed, as long as people stick around who remember the guiding principle of keeping it small it shouldn't. Best of luck!
Re:Yes/no (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Do the number of calls really matter? (Score:5, Funny)
Hi. I'm the infamous Anonymous Coward, and it's time we had a talk.
For years now, I've been enhancing the discussion on Slashdot through interesting interjections and humorous anecdotes (often about homosexual African Americans), but I feel things just aren't working out.
It takes me an awful lot of time, researching composing and spell chekcing the many hundreds of valuable posts I make a day, and although I don't request anything in return all I ever see is abuse. You moderate my comments down for absolutely no good reason.
I've had enough.
From this point on I'm just not going to bother. It's over.
I've been feeling this way for a while, slowly I've put less and less effort in my posts, repeating the same ideas over and over and, now, even started repeating whole posts verbatim.
It's been fun, Slashdot, but I'm disillusioned. You broke my heart, and I am never doing to give you the benefit of my insight again.
Be happy.
Love and regrets,
Anon.
Re:Do the number of calls really matter? (Score:5, Funny)
Hahaha disregard that! I suck cocks!
Re:At least Reiser (Score:3, Funny)
Don't be so sure about that...
People often shit their pants [internatio...roject.org] right after they're dead, eg if they're hanged or electrocuted.