Linus Torvalds Criticizes Inode Proposal and Calls Out Outdated File System Concepts
Linus Torvalds sharply rebuked a Google contributor’s inode proposal on the Linux kernel mailing list, calling the 1970s‑era inode concept an outdated relic that need not serve as a unique file‑system identifier, warning it adds unnecessary complexity and dismissing the submitted patch as garbage code.
Linus Torvalds recently posted one of his most forceful messages on the Linux kernel mailing list, openly rebuking a Google contributor’s inode proposal.
The debate focused on whether an inode should remain a unique identifier for file‑system metadata. Google engineer Steven Rostedt advocated unique numbering, while Linus argued that inodes are a relic of the 1970s and no longer serve as the sole descriptor.
He warned that preserving the old model “makes things more complicated than necessary” and dismissed a submitted PR as “garbage code”.
The full exchange is available in the linked LKML archive.
Signed-in readers can open the original source through BestHub's protected redirect.
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