A Visual Expedition Inside the Linux File Systems

RazvanM writes "This is an attempt to visualize the relationships among the Linux File Systems through the lens of the external symbols their kernel modules use. We took an initial look a few months back but this time the scope is much broader. This analysis was done on 1377 kernel modules from 2.6.0 to 2.6.29, but there is also a small dip into the BSD world. The most thorough analysis was done on Daniel Phillips's tree, which contains the latest two disk-based file systems for Linux: tux3 and btrfs. The main techniques used to establish relationships among file systems are hierarchical clustering and phylogenetic trees. Also presented are a set of rankings based on various properties related to the evolution of the external symbols from one release to another, and complete timelines of the kernel releases for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD. In all there are 78 figures and 10 animations."

Comments

Hmm

[Anonymous Coward]

I could use a visual expedition among the various links on this summary.

Let me correct that for you!

[Azeroth48]

This analysis was done on 1337 kernel modules

Typo in summary.

[SharpFang]

This analysis was done on 1377 kernel modules from 2.6.0 to 2.6.29

I think they meant 1337 kernel modules?

My chart

[iamdrscience]

Usefulness of a hammer:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Usefulness of an average Slashdot article:
XXXXXX

Usefulness of a screen door on a submarine:
XXXX

Usefulness of this Slashdot article:
X

Re:My chart

[Anonymous Coward]

Usefulness of a hammer:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Pass me that hammer, there's a fly on my mother-in-law's forehead

Re:Warning

[Chrisq]

Slashdot user BadAnalogyGuy is a scientologist. If he offers you a free personality test, firmly refuse him.

Thanks, but you don't have to worry. I have no personality.

Satanic messages

[(pvb)charon]

Man, I just thought I saw some obscured letters in one of the heatmaps but then realized it was just my damn glossy Macbook screen reflecting the writing on my t-shirt... Damn it...

Re:Odd visualization, but not so bad

[OneSmartFellow]

He's in training to work for Accenture (or Capgemini, Deloitte) where the chief product is useless graphs, presented in marathon PowerPoint sessions in which management try to impress each other by using the latest buzz-phrases.

They really do produce client-centric best practice inter departmental core competencies with a high return on investment and extremely low granularity event horizons. Just ask them !

Re:One other observation though...

[jeremyp]

It's easy.

I did it once and the fact that it couldn't be mounted was offset by the fact that no bugs were ever reported, nor did it it ever corrupt or lose any data. In fact, I didn't even have to write any of the implementation.