Getting More Information into File Names
Michael McClennen, Stuart Sechrest · 1996
Abstract: Hierarchical naming, while deeply embedded in our conception of file systems, is a rather weak tool for storing information about files and their relationships. A consequence is that users of today’s file systems frequently have trouble locating files. We describe a system in which a standard directory tree is extended by allowing names to contain auxiliary components representing descriptive attributes rather than directory names. This system allows files to be characterized more extensively, and lets users choose among multiple organizational structures for their stored information. A prototype has been implemented by means of a new vnode layer under SunOS 4.1.3. 1.