639
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by 0x4E4F@sh.itjust.works to c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world

Though the Windows thing was really funny 😂.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] bort@sopuli.xyz 95 points 7 months ago

the linux-file-deletion is used as a example for good software design. It has a very simple interface with little room for error while doing exactly what the caller intended.

In John Ousterhout's "software design philosophy" a chapter is called "define errors out of existence". In windows "delete" is defined as "the file is gone from the HDD". So it must wait for all processes to release that file. In Linux "unlink" is defined as "the file can't be accessed anymore". So the file is gone from the filesystem immediately and existing file-handles from other processes will life on.

The trade-off here is: "more errors for the caller of delete" vs "more errors due to filehandles to dead files". And as it turns out, the former creates issues for both developers and for users, while the later creates virtually no errors in practice.

[-] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 116 points 7 months ago

doing exactly what the caller intended.

No, no. Exactly what the user told it to do. Not what they intended. There's a difference.

[-] hstde@feddit.de 36 points 7 months ago

Exactly type rm -rf / instead of rm -rf ./ and you ducked up. Well you messed up a long time ago by having privileges to delete everything, but then again, you are human, some mistakes will be made.

[-] taladar@sh.itjust.works 35 points 7 months ago

Deleting the current directory via ./ seems contrived since you would just use . or more likely the directory name from outside the directory. What does happen is rm -rf ${FOO}/ while ${FOO} is an empty string.

[-] qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 19 points 7 months ago

Not sure if you're referencing the Steam incident, but Steam did exactly that: https://www.theregister.com/2015/01/17/scary_code_of_the_week_steam_cleans_linux_pcs/

[-] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 7 months ago

Even so, . and / are right next to each other so it's a likely typo. You might press enter before you catch it.

[-] 0x4E4F@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

The double check before you rm things 🤷.

[-] reinei@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

${Insert meme of qwertz ganz not having that problem here}

[-] PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk 5 points 7 months ago

yup, did that one on a server at work. had to go cap in hand to my manager to get him to fix it

[-] Technofrood@feddit.uk 17 points 7 months ago

Don't modern versions of rm block calling on / unless you pass a separate flag?

[-] Ziglin@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Yup I think it's --preserve-root

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

Machines will always do what you tell them to do, as long as you do what they say.

[-] Sonotsugipaa@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 7 months ago

do what they say

[-] hDGGgrLpg8nEucjxWnJz@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

What do they say?

load more comments (12 replies)
this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2024
639 points (96.0% liked)

linuxmemes

21074 readers
44 users here now

Hint: :q!


Sister communities:


Community rules (click to expand)

1. Follow the site-wide rules

2. Be civil
  • Understand the difference between a joke and an insult.
  • Do not harrass or attack members of the community for any reason.
  • Leave remarks of "peasantry" to the PCMR community. If you dislike an OS/service/application, attack the thing you dislike, not the individuals who use it. Some people may not have a choice.
  • Bigotry will not be tolerated.
  • These rules are somewhat loosened when the subject is a public figure. Still, do not attack their person or incite harrassment.
  • 3. Post Linux-related content
  • Including Unix and BSD.
  • Non-Linux content is acceptable as long as it makes a reference to Linux. For example, the poorly made mockery of sudo in Windows.
  • No porn. Even if you watch it on a Linux machine.
  • 4. No recent reposts
  • Everybody uses Arch btw, can't quit Vim, and wants to interject for a moment. You can stop now.

  • Please report posts and comments that break these rules!

    founded 1 year ago
    MODERATORS