Re: FW: Bug#146609: parted: free space is not shown

[Andrew Clausen]

On Tue, Dec 10, 2002 at 11:07:17PM +1100, Timshel Knoll wrote:
> Package: parted
> Version: 1.4.24-4
> Severity: wishlist
> 
> When the partition table is printed, it would be desirable for free space
> segments to be listed along with existing partitions. If a partition
> is removed, its number disappears along with it. Instead, an entry should
> appear with the free space's start and end points, and a filesystem type 
> 'free space' or so.

This isn't portable.  Only mac partition tables store partition table
entries for free space entries.

It is common on other partition table formats to have small regions
of free space... it would be annoying to display these.

> This should also apply at the end of the disk, where a large chunk of free
> space may exist.

Parted's print command displays how big the disk is... I think users can
figure it out.  I guess it would be quicker/more intuitive to get the
information from free space information, but I think free space
information would create a lot of noise elsewhere, cancelling any
benefit.

OTOH, it would be nice to be able to test these arguments.  Anyone
got a good hallway to grab people random users?

Cheers,
Andrew