Linux Kernel's Floppy Disk Code Is Seeing Improvements In 2020

I think there's still some utility in having floppy disk code in the kernel. Old computers still exist, and floppies might be the most convenient way to move data to them while airgapping them properly.

[programmerjake]

I think I still have a 5.25in 360k floppy somewhere...

[DRanged]

Beginning of last year I needed something off a 3.5 floppy and as I didn't have one anymore got myself an external USB floppy drive that worked surprisingly well.
Ah also the fond memories of using a scsi Plextor Plexwiter PX-R412Ci with caddy as it was the only one you could use to boot and install AIX on RS6000 models 7012-320 and 7012-360 unless you wanted to pay the IBM premium for a CD-Drive.

[schmidtbag]

I still use floppies at work. I'll be glad for any improvements to their functionality. And if you have to ask why I use floppies, they are removable, non-flash based memory, and can be write protected. Perfect for transferring data from one network to another. Lots of rpms are small enough to fit on a single floppy, config files, all kinds of things that aren't worth wasting a cd/dvd on. And you can reuse the heck out of them.

Zip drives and Jazz drives were the bomb!

You can mount flash drives as read-only. But even then, you said "transferring data from one network to another". Unless these networks are isolated from each other, why not just use the network to transfer files?

I personally have had data corruption issues with zip drives. Jazz were pretty cool, at least in concept.

[rene]

someone could fix sparc64 oopsing while accessing the floppy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAAJG0UlRxU

[starshipeleven]

Interesting. Although many modern main boards have deprecated this kind of device nowadays.

People running Linux 32bit will probably need this still

[skeetre]

I still use floppies at work. I'll be glad for any improvements to their functionality. And if you have to ask why I use floppies, they are removable, non-flash based memory, and can be write protected. Perfect for transferring data from one network to another. Lots of rpms are small enough to fit on a single floppy, config files, all kinds of things that aren't worth wasting a cd/dvd on. And you can reuse the heck out of them.

Zip drives and Jazz drives were the bomb!

[[email protected]]

Yeah, the race to the bottom came with high unreliability of the disks. People say that even floppies weren't all that bad in the 80's. Memories of frustration while trying to access data on some disks (CDs too) made me a early converted to flashdrives. I still have my first one, a blue, 1GB Corsair Flash Voyager (still works!).

I remember a day doing a 45 min bus ride to a friend's house to bring back a pack of floppy disks full of arcade ROMs (MAME), only to find out that disk 5 or 6 was corrupted... (in the "single big Zip file in multiple disks" days). Still makes me mad 20 years latter.

[ssokolow]

schmidtbag
quikee

I confess that I had never seen on of these (in cartridge form) until last month. And I'm one of those types that like to learn about obscure hardware stuff.
It also made me kind of sad to learn it never really took off, because for PC use it sure looks a lot better than traditional DVDs, being properly protected against scratches and dirt, while also had the characteristic of being used like a floppy disk or HDD, no stinky writing software needed (I'm looking at you Nero).

The use of caddies actually dates back to the earliest days of CD-ROM, when the stuff you were likely to get on them could cost equivalent to $1000 a disc or more in today's money. They fell out of use as the cost of what was being protected fell. I've got some period caddies that I remember seeing used with CD-enabled Macintoshes as a kid as nostalgic display pieces.

EDIT: ...the exact model of caddy pictured in the photos schmidtbag linked.

[schmidtbag]

I confess that I had never seen on of these (in cartridge form) until last month. And I'm one of those types that like to learn about obscure hardware stuff.
It also made me kind of sad to learn it never really took off, because for PC use it sure looks a lot better than traditional DVDs, being properly protected against scratches and dirt, while also had the characteristic of being used like a floppy disk or HDD, no stinky writing software needed (I'm looking at you Nero).

If you like quirky hardware and didn't know about DVD-RAMs coming in cartridges, I'm not sure if you're aware of these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magneto-optical_drive
and these (normal CD ROMs that came in caddies):
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...addies_JPG.jpg
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-a1x7...159202.jpg?c=2

The problem with DVD-RAM (with or without cartridges) is they were kinda expensive.