Linus Torvalds Expresses His Hatred For Case-Insensitive File-Systems
Linus Torvalds recently shared some strong opinions regarding case-insensitive filesystems while discussing patches for Linux 6.15-rc4. His thoughts were prompted by comments from Bcachefs developer Kent Overstreet about the difficulties connected to upstream patches for the Bcachefs kernel driver. Torvalds made it clear that he finds these filesystems fundamentally flawed and problematic.
Key Points
- Torvalds rejects the implementation of case-insensitive filesystems outright, labelling them as fundamentally wrong.
- He criticises developers for not learning from past mistakes, arguing that security issues arise from such implementations.
- Tensions arose in responses between Torvalds and Overstreet regarding the design and necessity of case insensitivity in filesystems.
- Discussion revolves around the need for robust testing and the complexities associated with case-insensitive naming schemes.
- Torvalds believes many designers fail to understand UTF-8 and Unicode principles adequately, complicating implementation.
Why should I read this?
If you’re into tech and development, this article captures a heated debate within the Linux community that showcases the ongoing challenges and strong opinions surrounding filesystem design. Torvalds’ frank critique not only sheds light on case insensitivity but also reflects broader issues in software development practices. You might want to keep an eye on how discussions like this shape future updates and practices in the Linux kernel!