On Wed, Nov 22, 2000 at 03:25:48PM +0700, Robert Elz wrote:

> Aside from "it has always been that way", ask yourself just what
> "creation time" really means, can you actually define it in any
> sensible way?

any time a new (as in, not previously existing) file name (including
pathname to the root of the mount point) is introduced on a file system,
attach to that filename a time.

> All the systems that I have ever seen that had the concept of
> "creation time" defined it in some meaningless and arbitrary way that
> really meant that the thing is useless.

one could argue that the other time stamps are just as arbitrary and
meaningless.  all you have to do is strictly define the behaviour, and
it ceases to be arbitrary.  whether or not it is useless depends on
whether or not you find utility with it.

having a creation time as defined above answers the question "how long
has that filename existed in the filesystem?"  a question that currently
cannot be answered with ffs.  (perhaps lfs can answer it?)

-- 
  Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." | agrier@poofygoof.com
    "[N]ow would be a great time for record companies to start releasing
       everything on vinyl."  --  David Wolf, regarding mp3 pirating