topbanner_forum
  *

avatar image

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with username, password and session length
  • Friday March 29, 2024, 10:06 am
  • Proudly celebrating 15+ years online.
  • Donate now to become a lifetime supporting member of the site and get a non-expiring license key for all of our programs.
  • donate

Author Topic: GrabFS — Screenshots as File System…  (Read 4038 times)

nontroppo

  • Charter Honorary Member
  • Joined in 2005
  • ***
  • Posts: 649
  • spinning top
    • View Profile
    • nontroppo.org
    • Donate to Member
GrabFS — Screenshots as File System…
« on: January 03, 2008, 07:17 AM »
In a pinch, GrabFS is a file system that shows you a live view of the window contents of currently running applications. In a GrabFS volume, folders represent running applications and image files represent instant screenshots ("grabs") of the applications' windows. You simply copy a file or just open it in place, and you have a screenshot. Open it again, and you have a new screenshot!
safari.jpg
Pretty interesting concept based off the FUSE FS wrapper. Amit Singh (OS X's version of Mark Russinovich :) ), who drove the MacFUSE project and wrote GrabFS also wrote ProcFS, a FS representation of process and includes hardware etc. For example, the iSight camera is available as a file to grab cam shots off by copying that file etc.
FARR Wishes: Performance TweaksTask ControlAdaptive History
[url=http://opera.com/]
« Last Edit: January 03, 2008, 07:20 AM by nontroppo »

f0dder

  • Charter Honorary Member
  • Joined in 2005
  • ***
  • Posts: 9,153
  • [Well, THAT escalated quickly!]
    • View Profile
    • f0dder's place
    • Read more about this member.
    • Donate to Member
Re: GrabFS — Screenshots as File System…
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2008, 07:51 AM »
Hm, sounds pretty weird - dunno if I could get used to it. And I'm not sure it has much advantage over a dedicated screensnapping tool?
- carpe noctem

crono

  • Charter Honorary Member
  • Joined in 2005
  • ***
  • Posts: 179
    • View Profile
    • Donate to Member
Re: GrabFS — Screenshots as File System…
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2008, 08:03 AM »
Hmmm... I cant think of one practical use for this :tellme: Nevertheless a nice proof of concept for the MacFUSE project  8)

nontroppo

  • Charter Honorary Member
  • Joined in 2005
  • ***
  • Posts: 649
  • spinning top
    • View Profile
    • nontroppo.org
    • Donate to Member
Re: GrabFS — Screenshots as File System…
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2008, 08:23 AM »
The only useful thing I can think of is the fact that tools to handle files and file systems means you can powerfully manage information (this is an example) in a generic way. I can use Ruby to easily handle a whole range of tasks (trigger screenshots based on system parameters), without having to use a screenshot-specific app or need to use specific SDKs, only general file handling). Like Web 2.0 - this approach is remixable in a way custom apps are not. But will I use it? Nah....  8)

EDIT: Another remixable "Data as FS": 

http://www.mulle-kyb...m/software/iTunesFS/
FARR Wishes: Performance TweaksTask ControlAdaptive History
[url=http://opera.com/]
« Last Edit: January 03, 2008, 08:34 AM by nontroppo »