Open Source Developers at Google: Amit Singh on MacFuse

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File systems provide one of the most familiar interfaces end users know. Since implementing a traditional file system is extremely complex and difficult, presenting information seamlessly through files and folders has typically been limited to a small set of select programmers--often kernel hackers who develop at the lowest layers of a system. The MacFUSE mechanism breaks this barrier on Mac OS X by doing all the in-kernel hard work once and for all and leaving to the developer only the file-system-specific logic, which can be implemented as a regular user-space application. MacFUSE, with its simple programmer-visible API (same as the Linux FUSE API) and multiple language bindings, almost trivializes the process of making anything and everything appear seamlessly as a set of files and folders. You can use it to blur the line between the Macintosh Desktop and the Web. In this talk, you will hear the story of MacFUSE from its creator.

Channel: Howto & Style
Uploaded: May 31, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Author: Google

Length: 01:24:13
Rating: 4.62
Views: 42850

Tags: google open source developers software engineering

Video Comments:
YapiKredi (October 4, 2008 at 1:47 pm)
WOW 1 hour video.. that's insane
paynito (September 22, 2008 at 8:09 am)
how this relates to the real world: I have an external firewire/usb drive, I formatted as HFS+ for mac files and FAT32 for windows. but try to copy a 4.1 GB Single-Layer DVD or a 7 GB dual-layer DVD to a windows machine, you can't without paying for MacDrive to read HFS+ on the windows box. I only have a single-layer burner on the mac, so I will install MacFuse and then be able to copy 7 GB DVDs on my mac, write them to the NTFS partition & connect to a windows computer with a dual layer burner
tigerfirestorm (September 19, 2008 at 2:41 pm)
I very much like the file (object) oriented metaphor as it is one great way - if not _the_ way - to go! I hope Apple take it up - without fear and prejudice of Google - and support it as it would put OS X further ahead of Windows NT (Yes NT cause Vista is built upon and only improved upon in terms of (graphics) hardware driver model and a few APIs)... The Picasa and Google Docs Demo's showed its real power and useability that a MAC should _ALSO_ be renowned for! Come on APPLE!!!
CreativeSoul76 (August 25, 2008 at 1:35 pm)
Hello, I REALLY enjoyed Amit Singh's speech regardless of what other people thought. I enjoyed the history he went through to take us up to the present and show us the future for what improvements macFuse can do. I am curious how it is evolving and would love to see some follow ups, thanks :) I agree with Amit and would love to see this project become apart of the file system technology for further improvements!
infotechsailor (June 13, 2008 at 4:13 am)
Khumar?
heisalso (March 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm)
9 months ago and this video is still more relevant than your comment.

You don't say what your interests are, but I'm sure YouTube isn't just for You.

Sure he's not a professional presenter, but he is a professional programmer. The subtleties of his comments are lost on guys who aren't in the know. There's a whole lot going on in his comments, even in the things he doesn't say, because we who know can tell he would have said something about it if it were important. He didn't "not" say much.
nickyilpazzo (January 28, 2008 at 5:16 pm)
vattenne
alanaeanglz (August 10, 2007 at 2:07 am)
Find a fun fling today at DAYFLING dot COM
doseryder (July 18, 2007 at 6:58 am)
I'm not a linux geek but I enjoyed it cuz now I how ntfs-3g relates to the FUSE biz.
michaeldeng1981 (June 28, 2007 at 11:57 am)
good, he's a genius.