Jim Henderson wrote:
> Well, from a FAT standpoint, I doubt anyone can say the archive bit is 
> "bolted on the side".

True. On the other hand, the original FAT file system had the semantics 
of the CP/M file system. But yes, by the time it got to the point where 
you actually did backups and had temp files you left hanging around, the 
archive bit was pretty well established. That MS's own programs didn't 
mark things as "don't archive this" (and that it really isn't a "don't 
backup" bit but more a "don't incrementally back up" bit) didn't help.

> Maybe what needs to happen is for programmers to use what's there rather 
> than invent something else for them to ignore, though 

Pretty much anything that isn't lowest-common-denominator is going to 
get ignored by the majority, I expect.  That's why it would be nice if 
the bit actually got by-default inherited by files inside directories 
with the bit set. Then you could set that bit on (say) /tmp and be done 
with it.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)

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