what's wrong with /dev? (linux general architecture question)

atom · 08-14-2005, 04:35 PM

I've been hearing a lot of fuss about the dev filesystem while reading some past threads of the kernel-dev mailing list. However, none of them were explained, they were more like references such as "We can't let the disaster of dev repeat" and "dev was a mistake, but the users liked it" etc.

So my question to all you gurus out there, just what is so wrong with dev filesystem that everyone's spitting on it?

--Gasper

--- disclaimer ---
This thread is not here for me to get flamed how stupid I am for not figuring it out myself. I'm looking for the "general opinion", because I do have my own opinion.

SlackerLX · 08-14-2005, 05:15 PM

If you were, please, more specific with stating your question those gurus would answer it with same ease. It's really dificult to comprehend what is exactly you want to know. sorry.

atom · 08-15-2005, 08:22 AM

I'm afraid that's hard to do... I was referring to the fact that a lot of people on the kernel-dev mailing list refer to the dev filesystem as a major mistake... I'm thriving to know why that is so.

Maybe I could explain a little better what they are saying about it.

from this thread on kerneltrap:
http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/1/...es_per_page=50

http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/1/message/84327/raw:

Quote:

> if we let Reiser4 merge...
No. Just like devfs was "the obvious right way", it /had/ to be merged ASAP, "wrinkles will be ironed out later". Turned out it wasn't wrinkles, but fundamental brokenness, and it was soon abandoned by the people who promised to maintain it forever. And now we have the flamewar about its removal...

Can anyone explain what the "fundamental brokenness" is in this case?