Re: [Ext2-devel] [RFC 0/13] extents and 48bit ext3

[Jeff Garzik]

Gerrit Huizenga wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:55:56 EDT, Jeff Garzik wrote:
> > Because it's called backwards compat, when it isn't?
> > Because it is very difficult to find out which set of kernels you are 
> > locked out of?
> > Because the filesystem upgrade is stealthy, occurring as it does on the 
> > first data write?
>
> Actually, the *only* point being contended here is running older
> kernels on some newer filesystems (created originally with a newer
> kernel), right?
>
> Or do you have examples of where current kernels could not deal
> with an ext3 feature at some point in time?
>
> I would argue that 0.001% of all Linux *users* actually worry about
> this - most of them are right here on the development mailing list.
> So, that group is more vocal, for sure.  But, if it works for 99.99+%
> users, aren't we still on the good path, from the point of view of
> those people who actually *use* Linux the most?

The overall objection is to treating ext3 as a highly mutable, 
one-size-fits-all filesystem.

Maybe there is value in moving some reiser4 concepts -- a set of 
metadata+algorithm plugins -- to the VFS level.  I dunno.

But for ext3 specifically, it seems like bolting on extents, 48bit, 
delayed allocation, and other new features weren't really suited for the 
original ext2-style design.  Outside of the support (and marketing, 
because that's all version numbers are in the end) issues already 
mentioned, I think it falls into the nebulous realm of "taste."

Rather than taking another decade to slowly fix ext2 design decisions, 
why not move the process along a bit more rapidly?  Release early, 
release often...

	Jeff



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