Filesystem: case-retaining or case-sensitive?

[Trond]

Do you prefer the filesystem to be case retaining but case insensitive (like Windows) or case sensitive (like Linux)?

[Derek]

I think case sensitive is a total pain in the ass, except for passwords of course.

[Kaeru Gaman]

it's just a question what you got used to.
you can cope with both if you have to work with it.

[merihevonen]

I have asked in many Linux forums and I will ask here too:
How can you make your Linux NON-case-sensitive?

It's so damn painful to write long Bash scripts and find out that it doesn't work because a case typo like /root/desktop/ instead of /root/Desktop/

Btw.. is Mac OS X case-sensitive? It's interesting to know, now that it also features Bash :roll:

[Nik]

Mac OS X is the only case insensitive UNIX out there (it's offically included in the UNIX Familiy tree)

[Nik]

however the bash on OS X does have some problems with this fact, it's not critical though...

[merihevonen]

Now if there would be a case-in-sensitive Linux? I hate the one who implemented case-sensitiviness to Linux

[netmaestro]

Not needing to worry about case when searching for a file is really helpful. Microsoft has gotten some things right over the years and I think this is one of them. Case retension for the user's sake but the OS isn't going to enforce it. Perfect.

[freak]

Case-sensitivity makes a lot of sense from a multilingual perspective.
This way names can be easily compared without worrying about the language
they are in and which characters are considered equal in that particular language when case is ignored.

This was one of the main reason why XML has been made case sensitive for example.

[merihevonen]

Case-sensitivity makes a lot of sense from a multilingual perspective.
This way names can be easily compared without worrying about the language
they are in and which characters are considered equal in that particular language when case is ignored.

This was one of the main reason why XML has been made case sensitive for example.

Atleast someone gave an example of why case-sensitiviness (is that even a word?) is good..

But I'm still looking for an answer to my question:
How do I make my Linux case-non-sensitive?

[Trond]

I have asked in many Linux forums and I will ask here too:
How can you make your Linux NON-case-sensitive?

This is exactly why I posted this poll: to see if people wanted a case-insensitive linux.

It's so damn painful to write long Bash scripts and find out that it doesn't work because a case typo like /root/desktop/ instead of /root/Desktop/

I can't make bash case insensitive, but the filenames can be.

Btw.. is Mac OS X case-sensitive? It's interesting to know, now that it also features Bash :roll:

It's not case sensitive by default.

How do I make my Linux case-non-sensitive?

You need to use a filesystem which isn't case sensitive. The problem is that most are.

[merihevonen]

This is exactly why I posted this poll: to see if people wanted a case-insensitive linux.

Ok, now this poll does make sense.. so you are going to make your own Linux?

I can't make bash case insensitive, but the filenames can be.

How can you make filenames case-in-sensitive?

You need to use a filesystem which isn't case sensitive. The problem is that most are.

Is there a good alternative for ext3 which would be case-insensitive?

[Trond]

This is exactly why I posted this poll: to see if people wanted a case-insensitive linux.

Ok, now this poll does make sense.. so you are going to make your own Linux?

It probably won't be finished, but yes apart from that "minor" problem.

I can't make bash case insensitive, but the filenames can be.

How can you make filenames case-in-sensitive?

By using a case-insensitive filesystem. You can't use your current filesystem.

You need to use a filesystem which isn't case sensitive. The problem is that most are.

Is there a good alternative for ext3 which would be case-insensitive?

Yes, JFS. But it's not case sensitive by default either, you have to turn it on.

[merihevonen]

Thanks Trond!
So if I was using JFS, would my Bash scripts work even if there was a "case typo"?

[merihevonen]

Trond, look at this!

ext3ci -- Case insensitive ext3 filesystem for Linux 2.6

The ext3ci software v2.6-1 creates a new "ext3ci" driver for Linux 2.6 based on the ext3 driver. The ext3ci driver differs from ext3 in that it is not case sensitive. That is, a=A, b=B and so forth. Use "mount -t ext3ci /dev/hda1 /mnt" on any ext3 filesystem instead of the normal mount command. This is known to work with Linux 2.6.11, but should work with any 2.6 series kernel. View the README file for installation and instructions.

I found it at http://bill.herrin.us/freebies/
I think this is alot better than to use a different filesystem