Everything about Device file
Interface to device driver that appears in filesystem
In Unix-like operating systems, a device file, device node, or special file is an interface to a device driver that appears in a file system as if it were an ordinary file. There are also special files in DOS, OS/2, and Windows. These special files allow an application program to interact with a device by using its device driver via standard input/output system calls. Using standard system calls simplifies many programming tasks, and leads to consistent user-space I/O mechanisms regardless of device features and functions. Wikipedia →
🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path
- Read the overview: Device fileA 5-minute orientation
- Skim a recent paper: Assessing the Performance of Forensic File Recovery Tools on Deleted Files from a USB DeviceInfluential work since 2022
- Pick up a classic book: UNIX in a NutshellThe most-reprinted book on the subject
- Read the landmark paper: Optimal Selection of CPU Speed, Device Capacities, and File AssignmentsCited 42 times
- Go sideways: Loop deviceA closely related topic
- Go sideways: ProcfsA closely related topic
📖 Definitions
Noun An interface to a device driver that appears in a file system, allowing an application program to interact with a device by using its device driver via standard input/output system calls.
🗂️ The subject at a glance
🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)
Optimal Selection of CPU Speed, Device Capacities, and File Assignments
Towards Finite File Packetizations in Wireless Device-to-Device Caching Networks
Specifying data availability in multi-device file systems
Single File Flow of Biomimetic Beads for Continuous SERS Recording in a Microfluidic Device
I/o paravirtualization at the device file boundary
OPTIMAL CLUSTERING SIZE OF SMALL FILE ACCESS IN NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE DEVICE
An algorithm for storage device selection and file assignment
A Study of External Storage Device File Outflow
🆕 Influential since 2022
Assessing the Performance of Forensic File Recovery Tools on Deleted Files from a USB Device
Automation of Remote Laboratory Device Configuration File Management
Enabling Simultaneous PDF File Access on Android Mobile Device
Organization of external file sharing for a microcontroller based portable electronic device
Evaluating a Novel Visualization Device for Improving File Insertion Accuracy During Root Canal Treatment
📚 Books worth reading
UNIX in a NutshellArnold Robbins · 1999
Writing Windows WDM Device DriversChris Cant · 1999
Writing MS-DOS device driversRobert Lai · 1987
Optical disk systems for records managementWilliam Saffady · 1988
Oracle automatic storage managementNitin Vengurlekar · 2007
Reversible ComputationShigeru Yamashita, Shin-ichi Minato · 2014
Windows Phone 7 Application Development For DummiesBill Hughes · 2011- 📕WordPerfect 6.0 for DOSTimothy J. O'Leary · 1994
Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.
🔗 Related topics
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