Re: [Bug-ddrescue] Suggestions to rename "logfile"

[Antonio Diaz Diaz]

Hi Burkart,

Burkart Lingner wrote:
> maybe a little late, but have you considered "journal" either by itself
> or in conjunction with "block", i.e., "blockjournal"?

Not late at all. I am still thinking about this important change in 
ddrescue.

I think "journal" has connotations of "chronological record", which is 
not at all the function of the ddrescue logfile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_(computing)
"In computer storage, a journal is a chronological record of data 
processing operations that may be used to construct or reinstate an 
historical or alternative version of a computer system or computer file."

"statusfile" (proposed by Martin Bittermann) captures better what the 
logfile does: it stores the changing status of each block of the device 
being rescued. "block" and "status" are the two words most used in the 
manual in relation to the logfile. "journal" is not even mentioned in 
the manual.

Just now I am debating between "blockfile" and "statusfile".


> The concept of a journal to track modifications in modern file systems
> is well-established, as is the name.

Yes, but the ddrescue logfile is not a journal of some filesystem or 
database; it is the database itself.


Best regards,
Antonio.