Windows on Btrfs (lilysthings.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's experience with using the Windows Btrfs driver to share files between Windows and Linux dual-boot systems. The author also explores using Quibble, an open-source reimplementation of the Windows bootloader, to boot Windows from a Btrfs partition. This setup allows for features like transparent compression and copy-on-write. However, some Windows apps, including those from the Microsoft Store, do not work due to compatibility issues.

Main themes

• Btrfs stability and performance
• NTFS performance and limitations
• Windows and Linux interoperability
• File system choice and trade-offs
• Docker and containerization
• Data corruption and reliability
• Operating system implementation details

What commenters say

• Btrfs is considered stable and suitable for use, with some users having used it for years without issues.
• NTFS is not particularly fast, and its performance issues are often attributed to Windows' file system architecture rather than the file system itself.
• Some users have experienced data corruption with Btrfs, particularly in RAID setups, but others have not encountered any problems.
• Docker has issues with Btrfs, possibly due to its storage driver, and some users recommend using a separate ext4 volume for Docker.
• The stability and performance of Btrfs have improved over time, but some users still experience issues, such as slow performance with certain workloads.
• ZFS and Btrfs have different features and use cases, and some users prefer one over the other for specific scenarios.
• File system choice can depend on specific needs and workloads, and what works well for one user may not work for another.
• Operating system implementation details, such as case sensitivity, can affect how file systems behave and interact with software.