[gentoo-embedded] tools for disk image manipulation

[David Baird]

Hi,

I'm a little new to collaborating on open source projects, so I might
need you to give me some seemingly obvious advice.

I'm interested in writing tools for manipulating disk images in user
space.  This would mean something like using dd to create a blank
file, partitioning it, formatting it, and mounting it.  The (non-root)
user should have the ability to chmod and chown every file on the
image.  I discovered the FUSE project and wrote a simple filesystem
that resides in data structures in RAM and I found that FUSE permits
mounting, chmoding, and chowning without obvious security risks (e.g.
executing suid root files).

Some things I would like to use these tools for are creating embedded
Linux images and creating images for ReactOS.

Most people seem to accomplish this by using the loopback filesystem
driver or by placing the physical drives on which the image resides
into their computer.  I think that this tool can make it easier and
safer for people to do embedded systems development.  For example, a
non-root user tool could 100% automate the process of creating an
image and eliminate the need for any root access or losetup.  I even
thought about providing an interface outside of fuse for systems that
might not install fuse such as university computing centers.

Does this sound useful?  Is there another mailing list I should hop on
for this topic?

- David

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