Filesystem monitoring
Core Technology
Notification APIs in LInux.
If you were using Linux back in 2006, you will remember the desktop search tool Beagle (Figure 1), which was notified when you changed your files so it could re-index them. Modern file managers also rely on notifications to update their displays when files are created, deleted, or renamed (Figure 2), unlike earlier file managers that counted on the user to refresh the display (Figure 3). Now, think of the ClamAV open source antivirus software. If you try to open a file containing malware, you expect an on-access scanner to ban it. In this case, notifications aren't enough; ClamAV needs to be an active part of the process, allowing or denying certain operations. Happily, Linux can handle both cases. The downside is, it does so with two separate APIs, and you can't just choose one over another.
Figure 1: Beagle hasn't released a new version since 2009, yet it's remembered as a "textbook" example of inotify usage. (The figure [1] is reproduced under Apache License, Version 2.0 [2].)
Figure 2: Many file managers, including Dolphin, rely on notifications to keep directory content current.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.
-
Linux Gamers May Soon See Less Mouse Lag in KDE Plasma
Gamers using KDE’s Plasma desktop have been suffering from a slight input delay in mouse movement that could lead to getting fragged.
-
Three Lines of Code Improve Linux Storage Performance
A developer changed three lines of code, giving Linux storage performance a 5% bump.
-
AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages
Once again the Arch User Repository is plagued by a high volume of malicious packages.
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.
-
United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
A new open source portal seeks to coordinate and scale open source efforts across the United Nations system.