Wishes for this decade

[Jonathan]

That we finally agree on a common IM protocol. I don't want one app that speaks all the different IM protocols, I want fifty apps that all speak the same protocol. I really don't care who blinks first, AOL, Yahoo, or Microsoft, but IM apps have got to start competing on features and quit competing on buddy lists.

That publishers and legislators finally acknowledge noncommercial perfect digital copies are here to stay. This has been perfectly obvious to everyone else since Napster first came out. One hundred million Americans shouldn't be wrong. In the meantime, artists need to realize they don't make any money from the recording industry and start doing live performances marketed by free downloads and supported by merchandising. Similar things go for the movie, book, and software industries.

That people start encrypting more than just their online purchases. When data is transmitted over a public network, it should be encrypted. Someone needs to get their act together and make this transparent and painless as possible.

That spammers give it up.

[Peijen]

people stop using java

new file system. I was thinking about this yesterday while day dreaming about a file server. I still like the tree structure for the system, but I want a flat file system for personal data files. Kind of like WinFS. Instead of oraganize my data into folders, I should be able to put meta data about the file in the file system and do a search/sort say, image file order by format, date, size. However I only want this to apply to my document folder or specific data drive.

[Jonathan]

Agreed. The hierarchical directory structure has been around too long.

The success of items like GMail and iTunes is proof of that. Although, it must be implemented in the correct way. Outlook 2003 is a terrible way to sort your email into conversations or 'smart folders.'

[Jonathan]

That voice mail becomes as user friendly as IM or SMS. This whole 'Press 1 to read messages...' schtick has gotten old, quick. You should be able to access your voice mail with the caller identified on your phone or computer. People are able to carry on asynchronous conversations using text, but no one really tries to do so with voice because the interface is too cumbersome.

[quantus]

go work for CA or some other place and implement it. Or, make it yourself and sell it yourself. There is a LOT of space in the HCI area to innovate.

[quantus]

people stop using java

<rant>OMG, I so wish this was true for memory hungry apps. At least compile the stupid thing using gcc3.0+ or some such so that it at least is somewhat responsive. Also, do not implement threading if you don't know what the heck you're doing. Better yet, stop coding completely. <\rant>

[Jonathan]

As far as FS goes: take your pick: Linux, Windows, or Mac.

http://www.gnomedesktop.org/article.php ... old=#10713
http://www.namesys.com/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/unde ... fault.aspx

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/spotlighttech.html

[mostly original]

in terms of our digital media:
i wish for the death of windows.
i wish for the acceptance of all open source apps by the masses.
i wish for everyone to be connected online at one moment.

in terms of our not so virtual reality:
i wish our nation to be on good terms with the nations of the middle east.
i wish our president to still be kerry.
i wish to be a successful artist, even though it means i'd have to get off my arse

it is good to reunite with old friends

somethinghumble.com

[Jonathan]

Peijen: Ars Technica has a very good description of the kind of new file system that we really need. The author also skims over the kind of file system features that are required to implement his idea. Furthermore, this blog has a nice entry about hierarchy versus tags. His argument, and I must admit I am convinced, is that tags subsume hierarchies.

Consider, for example, the file /etc/ssh2/ssh2_config. I am constantly referencing this file because I need to override the AllowedAuthentications option, I can never remember the name, and I always forget to put it in an alias. Instead of having a file with INODE 55327, name ssh2_config, and path /etc/ssh2, what if a new file system with arbitrary file metadata and a structure based on tags made a file with INODE 55237 and the following tags: etc ssh2 ssh2_config. You could easily access the file with the same string as you used to (/etc/ssh2/ssh2_config). You get essentially all the benefit of the hierarchy for your system plus the benefit of set-based system using tags.

[Jonathan]

I say "essentially all" because there is a corner case where hierarchy has more info than sets. Consider the files /home/jdpearce/tests/foozle and /home/jdpearce/foozle/tests. Those are distinct concepts in a hierarchical system but they would be identical in a set-based system.

However, I believe anybody creating directory structures like that needs a swift kick in the rear end. I'm not worried about losing that distinction.

[quantus]

What about /whatever/build/datecode/datecode/ ? There's meaning in the repetativeness... Of course, with set based naming, you just wouldn't do the case you described and the case above because they would reference the same file. I think where the set based filesystem lacks is that it becomes impossible for you to replicate a directory tree somewhere else within.

For example, /treeRoot/ can't be placed as /treeRoot/branch1/branch2/treeRoot/

[Jonathan]

In this system that I am making up, a "folder" is just a GUI way of opening up a list of items with some search query. I can make a new folder "amber" and when I open it for the first time it is populated with all the files that contain the word "amber" in the file or metadata. I can make a subfolder in "amber" called "image" that contains all the images that also contain the word "amber" in the file or metadata. I can use this spatial way of accessing my data, or I can use a Spotlight- or Beagle-style interface. If I use the spatial method, I can create a new document in my "amber" folder which automatically gets tagged "amber" upon creation.

You could also include tags in the "folder" in addition to files and data. The tags would essentially become new "folders". So, if I made an "ssh2" folder, it might have the ssh config files, the ssh binaries, and the "etc," "usr," and "bin" folders. If I double click on the "etc" folder, then it shows me just the config files because only those are tagged both "etc" and "ssh2".

The same system would work for the command line as well.

[Jonathan]

For example, /treeRoot/ can't be placed as /treeRoot/branch1/branch2/treeRoot/

I'm trying to think of a case of this in which I care. Clearly, I can reference "branch1 branch2 treeRoot" and keep that distinct from "head treeRoot". Are there systems like the one you describe in common use? All I can think of is stuff like /home/jdpearce/starlab/install/usr/lib but that has treeRoot1 (/home) and treeRoot2 (/usr) so that'll be fine.

[Jonathan]

The one case this might come up is virtualization, but virtualization is going to be done in hardware. Didn't you get the memo?

[Peijen]

I haven't had chance to read the article yet, but what about .bashrc in /etc and /home/[usr]? How would you distinqush them.

[Jonathan]

"etc .bashrc" and "home jdpearce .bashrc". There is no collision. One is INODE 812374 and the other INODE 571230.

Actually, you can quit wanking around with my made-up FS and start wanking around with Hans Reiser's made-up FS.

http://www.namesys.com/whitepaper.html

His has the benefit of fancy math words and figures, plus it might actually be implemented some day. Also, his is a superset of mine. He leaves in ordering (aka hierarchy) as an optional form of categorization. See here:
/etc/password

"bilbo gandalf dragon"

case-insensitive/"computer privacy laws"


The examples get even more complicated.

[quantus]

The one case this might come up is virtualization, but virtualization is going to be done in hardware. Didn't you get the memo?

I did, but the memo said something about it being a while yet because you're a slow designer.

[quantus]

So, if you use gmail as a network drive, couldn't you already do your watered down version of Reiser's FS? Hell, you could just write this yourself at a program level and change all the file accesses in your programs to call your script instead. You might even be able to set up a virtual drive and driver that routes all its calls through your script.

[Jonathan]

You need two things to do this effectively: ubiquity and performance. I can provide neither with some hack job.

As for the other, VT is being launched this year.

[Dave]

WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool week long wars:
US taking out Cuba
China sinking Taiwan

A few months of CNN:
North Korea
Isreal getting nuked and firing back.
US taking over Canda & Mexico.

Epic year long ones:
India vs Pakistan over a goat
China destroying Pakistan & India on the way to taking over the middle east.
Japan launching a world war against everyone using robots. Which shoot freaking lazer beams attached to sharks in tanks on top of their head.

and my perrenial favorite

Aliens invading earth and stealing our porn. Heads would roll for that.