[parted-devel] [PATCH] Document the lack of support for ext3 filesystems.

[Joel Andres Granados]

Jim Meyering wrote:
> Hi Joel,
> 
> Thanks for the patch.
> Deprecating ext3 support is a good first step.

yep, its all good.  My idea is not to take it away completely though.  The more I think about this issue the more I realize why it was put there in the first place.
Reasons that I think we should support ext3:
1. There is a library, makes things easier and makes stuff less prone to bugs.
2. I like the idea of creating an ext{3,4} filesystem with the same tool that I do the partitioning.  Its just less hassle.
3. I would like parted to have at least filesystem knowledge.  This would allow parted to be more informative to the user when a partition/disk is being handled.  Parted could say something like "dear user, the end size of the partition is smaller than the filesystem you have inside, do you really want to destroy this filesystem?"

Are we taking away all traces of filesystem support?

> 
> However, I think we should be warning that as much
> file-system manipulation as possible should be done
> by tools other than parted.  E.g., rather than using parted's
> mkpartfs command, just use mkpart to create the empty(unformatted)
> partition, and then use an external tool like mkfs.ext2 to create the
> file system.

I'll put what you suggested in the messages.

> 
> I know from bug-fixing experience that the ext2-FS-manipulating code in
> parted is far too old to be considered reliable, and all you need to do
> is choose slightly unlucky or unusual parameters (possibly due merely
> to the layout of the target partition) in order to provoke
> data corruption.
> 
> As I said, this patch is a fine first step, and
> I'll commit it once you make a few small changes:
> 
> [this wording appears in two files]
>> +...  Tools like resize2fs (8) and mke2fs (8) are
>> +suggested for managing these types of filesystems.
> 
> Use an active voice.  I.e., instead of the above, say e.g.,

right active voice.  Shouldn't be difficult.  Do you have a reason for choosing one besides the other?  just curious ;)

> 
>     Use tools like resize2fs(8) and mke2fs(8)
>     to manage these types of filesystems.
> 
> Also, while I know at least one "please" was preexisting,
> please remove all of the ones in the lines changed or
> added by your patch.

mmmm, don't like the magic word....
I'll remove every trace of niceness in the documentation ;)

> 
> Jim
> 
> Joel Andres Granados <jgranado at redhat.com> wrote:
> ...
>>  .SH KNOWN ISSUES
>> -ext3 filesystem resizing does not currently work, please use
>> -.BR resize2fs (8)
>> -instead.
>> +ext3 filesystem functionality does not currently work.  To manage ext3
>> +type filesystems please use tools like resize2fs (8) or mke2fs (8).
>> +Please note that the currently supported ext2 filesystem will be


-- 
Joel Andres Granados
Red Hat / Brno, Czech Republic