Re: [RFC] change in /proc/devices

From: Alexander Viro (viro@math.psu.edu)
Date: Thu Jan 27 2000 - 07:04:44 EST


On Thu, 27 Jan 2000, Guest section DW wrote:

> > > > hda 03 00-39
> > > > hdb 03 40-79
> > > > hde 21 00-39
> > > > hdf 21 00-40
> > > > sda 08 00-09
> > >
> > > Erm... It was in hex ;-)
>
> Introducing new interfaces in hex is a mistake. All hex stuff has to go eventually.
> I don't know how many times I have had to explain that 08:12 is not /dev/sda12
> but /dev/sdb2. Having names use decimal and numbers use hex is just confusing.

Excuse me? Names here are without numbers. And while 2100 is readable
8448 is _not_.

> > > > Because that would explicitly show the major and minors, instead
> > > > of having to rely on hidden magic to partition the majorspace.
> > >
> > > Argh... I'ld _really_ like to get rid of major/minor stuff wherever
> > > possible.
>
> Yes. A device number is an opaque number that identifies a device.
> Userspace should not attempt to see structure there.
> [It is too bad we have ls and mknod.]

Ahem... Life without ls would be interesting...

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