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Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 12:03:13 -0800
From: "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@zytor.com>
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To: Daniel Phillips <phillips@bonn-fries.net>
CC: Alexander Viro <viro@math.psu.edu>,
        "Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@xmission.com>,
        linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: initramfs buffer spec -- second draft
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Daniel Phillips wrote:

> 
> Encoding the numeric fields in ASCII/hex is a goofy wart on an otherwise nice 
> design.  What is the compelling reason?  Bytesex isn't it: we should just 
> pick one or the other and stick with it as we do in Ext2.
> 
> Why don't we fix cpio to write a consistent bytesex?
> 


Because we want to use existing tools.  It's a wart, but not compelling 
enough of one to rewrite the tools from scratch.  (I would also change 
the EOA marker from "TRAILER!!!" to "" since a null filename would not 
interfere with the namespace.)

I don't think think this application alone is enough to add Yet Another 
Version of CPIO.  However, if there are more compelling reasons to do so 
  for CPIO backup reasons itself I guess we could write it up and add it 
to GNU cpio as "linux" format...

	-hpa


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