attributes in config file Jonathan S. Shapiro (shap@eros-os.org)
Thu, 13 Apr 2000 12:41:47 -0400

This is a note on a simplification. Once we go to putting the attribute list in the configuration file, it follows that the fs-name and the true-name of an entry are merely distinguished attributes (at least logically). They differ from other attributes in the following ways:

  1. They are unique per-record. That is, all other attributes may be repeated as a set across records. These won't be.
  2. They change frequently. Other attributes generally do not.

That said, I have concluded that representing them as attributes will simplify the implementation. It can be changed easily later. Also, if I stick to the canonical sort they should all compress out rather nicely.

shap