GmailFS
Encyclopedia
GmailFS is a virtual file system
originally developed by Richard Jones that uses a Gmail
e-mail account for storage. GmailFS is written for Linux
, but Windows
and Mac OS X
ports exist too. It originally was based on underlying SMTP and POP3 interation with gmail. Since 2010 a fork
exists that uses IMAP.
It works by building a filesystem with the Filesystem in Userspace
loadable kernel module
, and manages communication with Gmail through a special purpose Python
library called libgmail. The actual GmailFS is also implemented in Python.
The speed of this filesystem is limited by the speed of the user's Internet
connection, and the upload/download speed of the Gmail
server. Files can be any size, and are stored as (segmented) attachments.
The Official website news dated 13 December 2009, says "Unfortunately the GmailFS project has come to an end. libgmail has ceased being maintained by its developers, and as a result libgmail no longer works with the latest Gmail interface (and has not done so for many weeks). Without a working libgmail, GmailFS does not function, so the end of libgmail also spells the end of GmailFS."
Since May 16, 2010, a fork of GmailFS now exists that uses IMAP.
Virtual file system
A virtual file system or virtual filesystem switch is an abstraction layer on top of a more concrete file system. The purpose of a VFS is to allow client applications to access different types of concrete file systems in a uniform way...
originally developed by Richard Jones that uses a Gmail
Gmail
Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though...
e-mail account for storage. GmailFS is written for Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, but Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
ports exist too. It originally was based on underlying SMTP and POP3 interation with gmail. Since 2010 a fork
Fork (software development)
In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
exists that uses IMAP.
It works by building a filesystem with the Filesystem in Userspace
Filesystem in Userspace
Filesystem in Userspace is a loadable kernel module for Unix-like computer operating systems that lets non-privileged users create their own file systems without editing kernel code...
loadable kernel module
Loadable Kernel Module
In computing, a loadable kernel module is an object file that contains code to extend the running kernel, or so-called base kernel, of an operating system...
, and manages communication with Gmail through a special purpose Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
library called libgmail. The actual GmailFS is also implemented in Python.
The speed of this filesystem is limited by the speed of the user's Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
connection, and the upload/download speed of the Gmail
Gmail
Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though...
server. Files can be any size, and are stored as (segmented) attachments.
The Official website news dated 13 December 2009, says "Unfortunately the GmailFS project has come to an end. libgmail has ceased being maintained by its developers, and as a result libgmail no longer works with the latest Gmail interface (and has not done so for many weeks). Without a working libgmail, GmailFS does not function, so the end of libgmail also spells the end of GmailFS."
Since May 16, 2010, a fork of GmailFS now exists that uses IMAP.