The default way of sorting files should really be "the newest of modification/creation" instead of just modification time.
At work I'll download an image and then take a couple minutes to find it in the huge "Pictures" folder because it was "last modified" some time in 2023.
Of course some filesystems don't support creation time. But the ones most commonly used on Linux today (ext4/btrfs/XFS/ZFS) do, as does Windows's NTFS and Mac's APFS.
This also gets back into my idea that the filesystem could treat "files meant to be edited" and "files meant to be atomic" differently.
Something that I think is really fundamental about what appeals to people about things like Linux and Firefox and other open source and customizable software is that a lot of us remember the days when we told computers what to do. These days it really feels like we have decided to let computers tell us what to do (and by extension nazi fuck tech billionaires).
Don't let the computer tell you what to do. You tell the computer what to do!
I always remember when I was newer to Linux I wanted advice on where to store files that I wanted multiple users to have easy read write access to, so I asked and people were generally just like "I dunno, I guess /opt or /srv. It doesn't really matter its your filesystem" and that really spoke to me. Like, its your filesystem, its your computer.
Create a directory on your fs root called /stuff and just dump everything you have in there if you want. Create different partitions for files that are different colors if you want. Store all your nudes in /proc no one gives a shit.
instead of just installing arch normally, i'm gonna boot into the install iso, format the empty partition i created from win10 as ext4, use fbcat(1) or something to make a screenshot, save it to that partition, and then try to mount that from WSL to post the screenshot on tumblr.
Choosing the right filesystem for your Linux installation is crucial. Compare Ext4's stability vs. Btrfs's advanced features like snapshots
Btrfs vs Ext4 Which Linux Filesystem Should You Choose in 2026
Understanding Your Filesystem Options
Choosing between Btrfs and Ext4 remains a critical decision for Linux administrators and desktop users in 2026. While both are widely supported, they serve fundamentally different use cases based on modern storage needs.
Why Choose Ext4 for Performance
Ext4 continues to be the gold standard for stability and raw speed in high-throughput environments. It remains the default choice for most distributions due to its proven track record.
Excellent performance in database write operations.
Mature, predictable behavior across all kernel versions.
Lower overhead compared to advanced copy-on-write systems.
The Case for Btrfs Modern Features
Btrfs is designed for users who prioritize data integrity and advanced volume management. By utilizing copy-on-write technology, it offers capabilities that native Ext4 cannot replicate without complex external tools.
Native support for snapshots and easy rollbacks.
Built-in data checksumming to prevent silent corruption.
Transparent file system compression to save storage space.
Making the Final Decision
The right choice depends entirely on your specific workload requirements. If you require absolute speed and simplicity, Ext4 is the clear winner for production servers and standard desktop setups. If you need advanced features like snapshots, pooling, or RAID-like capabilities, Btrfs provides a modern, flexible framework that justifies its slightly higher performance overhead.
I am looking into the 'RPC wait' for node getData with a named node. I am trying to understand how this error message works, and the internals of what it means.
Update 10/13/25:
Well it's kinda opaque how this all works. It also seems like there are a couple possible reasons for why this could be happening. It was not clear to me if there is a way to tell, in the abstract, which one without looking at node logs.
It seems like the most likely reason is RDMA issues. Likely due to network issues where the communications are not getting through as they should causing 'RPC wait' issues.
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“ZFS and Better File System (Btrfs) are two popular modern file systems. Both are designed with advanced storage features and offer snapshot capabilities, data integrity protection, and highly efficient storage management. However, ZFS has been the more reliable option for both personal and enterprise-level usage.”
I found this interesting as I did try a switch to Btrfs myself a while ago, but seem to remember I had speed issues as well as an inflated storage requirement. I liked the concept though. It is something I want to revisit in the future again, but I’ll probably give ZFS a more serious consideration then.
Right now I’m back on EXT4 with daily mirrored backups to two separate locations, and a selected cloud backup of critical data.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/how-zfs-is-superior-to-btrfs
