Re: FileAPI use case: making an image downloading app

We're actively developing such functionality.

The limit per directory is for the sake of the os file system. If you want to create a data store, use indexedDB or use standard file system practices (create a subdirectory tree).

Disk space availability (quota) is an issue no matter what happens. When downloading 1000 images, you'll still only be doing so x at a time.

This issues are inherent in the design of any application of scale. At this point, the file system API does work for the use case you're describing.

It'd be nice to see Blob storage better integrated with Web Storage Apis. Ian has already spoken to this, but no followers yet (afaik).

-Charles



On Dec 17, 2010, at 3:34 PM, "Gregg Tavares (wrk)" <gman@google.com> wrote:

> Sorry if this has been covered before.
> 
> I've been wanting to write an app to download images from photo sites and I'm wondering if this use case has been considered for the FileAPI wrt Directories and System.
> 
> If I understand the current spec it seems like their are some possible issues.
> 
> #1) The spec says there is a 5000 file limit or directory.
> 
> #2) The spec requires an app to specify how much storage it needs
> 
> I understand the desire for the limits.  What about an app being able to request unlimited storage and unlimited files? The UA can decide how to present something to the user to grant permission if they want.
> 
> Arguments against leaving it as is:
> 
> The 5000 file limit seems arbitrary. Any app that hits that limit will probably require serious re-engineering to work around it. It will not only have to some how describe a mapping between files on a server that may not have that limit, it also has the issue the user might have something organized that way and will require the user to re-organize. I realize that 5000 is a large number. I'm sure the author of csh though 1700 entires in a glob was a reasonable limit as well. We all know how well that turned out :-(   It's easy to imagine a video editing app that edits and composites still images. If there are a few layers and 1 image per layer it could easily add up to more than 5000 files in a single folder.
> 
> The size limit also has issues. For many apps the size limit will be no problem but for others....  Example: You make ray tracing program, it traces each frame and saves the files to disc. When it runs out of room, what is its options? (1) fail. (2) request a file system of a larger size. The problem is (2) will require user input. Imagine you start your render before you leave work expecting it to finish by the time you get in only to find that 2 hours after you left the UA popped up a confirmation "this app requests more space"
> 
> The same would be true for an image downloading app. You start the app to download a 1000 images, not knowing their sizes before hand. You start it and leave. Half way through the UA puts up a conformation asking for more space.
> 
> Have these use cases already come up and been rejected?
> 
> 
>

Received on Saturday, 18 December 2010 00:18:01 UTC