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Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 12:14:24 -0800
From: curtis@integratus.com
Organization: Integratus, Inc.
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To: Anton Altaparmakov <aia21@cam.ac.uk>
CC: Hans Reiser <reiser@namesys.com>, Nathan Scott <nathans@sgi.com>,
        Andreas Gruenbacher <ag@bestbits.at>, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org,
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Subject: Re: reiser4 (was Re: [PATCH] Revised extended attributesinterface)
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I know I'm stepping into a minefield, but I just can't help putting in
my 2 pennies.  :-)

Anton Altaparmakov wrote:
> At 12:02 11/12/01, Hans Reiser wrote:
> >What would have happened if set theory had not just sets and elements, but
> >sets, elements, extended-attributes, and streams, and you could not use
> >the same operators on streams that you use on elements?  It would have
> >been crap as a theoretical model.  It does real damage when you add things
> >that require different operators to the set of primitives. Closure is
> >extremely important to design.  Don't do this.
> 
> Since we are going into analogies: You don't use a hammer to affix a screw
> and neither do you use a screwdriver to affix a nail...at least I don't. I
> think you are trying to use a large sledge hammer to put together things
> which do not fit together thus breaking them in the process. To use your
> own words: Don't do this. (-; Each is distinct and should be treated as
> such. </me ducks>

I agree with Anton.  Files have certain characteristics that we all
know and love, stream-style attributes have pretty-much those same
characteristics.  IMHO, we would like EAs to have a different set of
characteristics so that the application programmer has different tools
in her toolbox.  To continue the analogy: "if all you have is a hammer,
everything looks like a nail".  Give someone that _already has_ a hammer
a screwdriver and they will be confused for a while but will end up
happier than if you gave them a "better hammer".

Thanks,

	Curtis

-- 
Curtis Anderson						curtis@integratus.com
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