Export eXdupe as C library

[hamb1y]

Exporting eXdupe as a C library would be very useful. There would also be negligible performance overhead for it being used in another language (literally almost all languages today support the C ABI) using the C ABI.

Right now calling it from a program not written in a shell derivative, you have to wrap it a bunch and do a bunch of complex stuff for no reason.

[rrrlasse]

That has actually been on the todo list for a while because it would also allow to easily create graphical user interfaces.

The idea is to layer it in three layers: deduplication library, archiver-library and a very thin command line interface.

Just let me know if you have any input since I'll probably start working on that as the next thing.

[hamb1y]

yeah that sounds good, not much else to add. i also have another request: for the eXdupe binary, rather than maintaing it seperately just build it as a wrapper for the eXdupe c lib

[rrrlasse]

I don't think I understand what you mean - can you elaborate it?

What thought was having three layers:

1. deduplication library: Basically just the current libexdupe.cpp which is not aware of files - its interface is just streams of data.
2. eXdupe "application library" Takes paths of files, directories, flags, settings, etc as C parameters. Maybe a callback for progress (bytes compressed, compressed size as uint64_t).
3. Thin command line wrapper - just turns command line into C types, prints status, translates C enum to error messages.

Maybe the wrapper in 3) could also offer a scripting-friendly mode. I.e. one that has a more fixed-format somehow.

[hamb1y]

yeah that sounds fine. rereading what i said id get why you were confused. sorry. but yeah this plan is fine