From: David Howells Subject: Re: [PATCH 0/6] Extended file stat system call Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:57:56 +0100 Message-ID: <10104.1335477476@redhat.com> References: <1335460011.9701.30.camel@lade.trondhjem.org> <20120419140558.17272.74360.stgit@warthog.procyon.org.uk> <20656.1335450358@redhat.com> <1335453958.9701.10.camel@lade.trondhjem.org> <1335459642.9701.27.camel@lade.trondhjem.org> Cc: dhowells-H+wXaHxf7aLQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org, Steve French , "linux-fsdevel-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org" , "linux-nfs-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org" , "linux-cifs-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org" , "samba-technical-w/Ol4Ecudpl8XjKLYN78aQ@public.gmane.org" , "linux-ext4-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org" , "wine-devel-5vRYHf7vrtgdnm+yROfE0A@public.gmane.org" , "kfm-devel-RoXCvvDuEio@public.gmane.org" , "nautilus-list-rDKQcyrBJuzYtjvyW6yDsg@public.gmane.org" , "linux-api-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org" , "libc-alpha-9JcytcrH/bA+uJoB2kUjGw@public.gmane.org" To: "Myklebust, Trond" Return-path: In-Reply-To: <1335460011.9701.30.camel-SyLVLa/KEI9HwK5hSS5vWB2eb7JE58TQ@public.gmane.org> Sender: linux-api-owner-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org List-Id: linux-ext4.vger.kernel.org Myklebust, Trond wrote: > You are still not explaining why they need to know the values at all? If > the values are bogus, then don't return them, and don't set the flag > that says they are being returned. What if the xstat() and struct xstat eventually becomes what userspace uses as stat() (as a wrapper) and struct stat (if such a thing is possible with glibc versioning)? Do older programs that think they're using stat() and don't know about the extra fields available expect to see a useful value in st_ino? David