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Microsoft today announced that it:
is supporting the addition of Microsoft's exFAT technology to the Linux kernel.
Microsoft has published the exFAT file system specification on its Windows Dev Center site.
While the code remains under copyright, Microsoft also stated that the exFAT code incorporated into the Linux kernel will be available under GPLv2.
We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network's Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN's 3040+ members and licensees.
It is noteworthy that there is already a free and open source exFAT driver available for FreeBSD and multiple Linux distributions, but it is not an official part of the Linux kernel due to the patent encumbrance of exFAT.
Also at TechCrunch and VentureBeat.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 29 2019, @05:25PM (3 children)
<no-sarcasm>
At work I use Windows. But personally, I do not now nor never have owned a Windows PC. Just because I prefer Linux for my personal computing doesn't mean that all my friends also use Linux. Or Mac. I still have to interact with people using other platforms. So ExFAT is sometimes handy because it is like a 'rosetta stone' format. While FAT32 may be much more common, it has severe limitations these daze.
</no-sarcasm>
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Thursday August 29 2019, @06:27PM (1 child)
Yes, but...
This is MS making the offer. I'd be extremely skeptical, and require a pledge not only of patent free access, but of full indemnification against some 3rd party making patent claims. MS has long been known to transfer patents to "3rd parties" with the requirement that MS has full rights to continue using them.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 29 2019, @09:25PM
I completely agree. I don't trust Microsoft any further than I can throw Donald Trump.
I would count my fingers after shaking hands just to be sure I'm not missing any.
Nonetheless, ignoring patents, I sometimes have found it convenient, from time to time, to use exFAT to move files between myself and some non-Linux user whose system wouldn't know anything about ext4 or whatever.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Friday August 30 2019, @09:13AM
I've had good luck using the UDF file system on my USB drives, Linux and Win both support it on most installs and it can handle large files and long files names without issues.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."