BFS: save file versions

Forum thread started by FSV on Thu, 2008-07-10 17:12

Hi!

I suggest to discuss a following thing:

In operational system VMS of computers DEC VAX there was one delightful opportunity, - OS kept all versions of files. Those are, when you wrote down the same file in the same place of file system the operation system did not overwrite an old file, and added to a name of a new file number of its version. The name of a file looked so:

File_name.file_extention:file_version_number

If the same opportunity could be realized in Haiku, it would be full DELIGHT! For clearing file system from old versions of files the command purge has been stipulated. Has been stipulated also system purge. In Haiku it would be possible to realize this idea by means of attributes and essentially to develop. For example, in adjustments it is possible to provide following options:
1. Full switching-off of storage of versions of files.
2. To specify depth of preservation of versions of files. We shall tell, to store no more than three versions. At preservation of the new version, most old version automatically to delete.
3. Do not create versions for files, which size more the than set size.
4. Do not create versions for files of the certain type.
5. Do not create versions for the files few differing on time of updating.
6. Purge files it is more or less the than set size, an interval on time of creation, etc., etc.
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Ticket #2490 (new enhancement)

‹ raw images I miss the old status page ›

Comments

Re: BFS: save file versions

by RandomInsano - 2008-09-30 18:24

Great idea. In fact, I was about to start a post about this. I've been using dropbox for a little bit and really think I might be able to figure out how to implement this. Though I'm not familiar with Haiku ins and outs. If it can't work for a reason, discuss why please (helps me learn :D)

Assumptions:
  - There is a daemon that watched certain folders, files.
  - No file larger than a user configurable size is backed up

Implementation:
  - When a file is opened for write in a watched folder, make a copy of it in a 
    hidden folder 'diffs' in the file's own folder
  - When t