syncfsint

Syncfsint is a term used in computer science to denote a synchronization mechanism integrated with the filesystem interface to ensure consistency of file system state during asynchronous operations and interrupts. The concept is used in discussions of kernel design and distributed file systems to coordinate metadata updates and avoid partial writes.

It provides a set of primitives that allow threads or processes to enter a synchronization region, perform a group of filesystem operations, and commit them atomically, or roll back if a failure occurs. In local kernels, syncfsint may be realized as a locking, journaling, or transactional layer that serializes access to metadata blocks and journal entries. In distributed file systems, syncfsint-like protocols often rely on a consensus mechanism to agree on the order of metadata changes across nodes.

History and usage: The term has appeared in academic papers on transactional file systems and in technical discussions about interrupt-aware file-system interfaces. It is not a single standardized API; implementations vary across operating systems and file system types.

Implementation considerations include performance overhead, complexity, and compatibility with existing caching and recovery schemes. Some designs integrate with the filesystem journal or log-structured file systems, while others employ optimistic concurrency with batch commits and rollback support.

Applications and impact: Syncfsint concepts are discussed in contexts such as real-time systems, high-availability databases, and embedded platforms where predictable metadata consistency in the presence of interrupts and asynchronous I/O is valuable.

See also: journaling file system, atomicity, transactional memory, distributed file systems, Raft.