After using many versioning and snapshotting interfaces to file systems to protect and recover data, we discovered that there is no tool that allows one to do just that intuitively, efficiently and easily. This project was born when thinking about how people can use such a tool, if it exists, and that how it has the potential to change the way the users view and use their file systems.
The tool is in the form of a Graphical File Manager / Browser that allows one to navigate within the File system namespace and Time intuitively. It has many features that make it a indispensable tool to file system users. This document describes the paradigm shift in the way one can view a file system that supports versions, as well as some of the challenges in developing this tool.
The Time Traveling File Manager uses the Ext3cow versioning file system as a building block, and creates an interface to use it's time-shifting interface that can be used intuitively and efficiently, to travel in both Time and Space.
Screenshots
The following screen shots have been taken to show the browser in action and some of it's key features. Some of the component names have been marked on the interface below.
Notice, that the Date Slider window size is by default one month. Using the zoom in and Zoom Out buttons, one can shrink or enlarge this window size respectively. The browser is currently in the Past, displaying the file system contents as they were on the 24th of April, at 7:17 pm. Both the path edit bar and the time status bar indicate that the view is of the Past time.
System Requirements
Credits
Author: Sandeep D. Ranade
Advisors: Dr. Randal Burns, Dr. Yair Amir
I would also like to thank Zachary Peterson (author of ext3cow), Mark Miller, Eric Northup, Claudiu Danilov, Ciprian Tutu, and Nilo Rivera.