VFS-PIPE

December 26, 2025 ยท View on GitHub

========================================================== VFS-PIPE

WHAT IS THIS? VFS-Pipe is a lightweight C header that exposes your program's internal variables as real files in the Linux filesystem.

It creates a "live bridge" between your running C code and the shell. If you have a variable 'int status', it appears as /tmp/vfs/status.

  • View real-time data: cat /tmp/vfs/status
  • Update settings live: echo 1 > /tmp/vfs/status

It uses FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) to run a background thread, allowing for zero-latency communication without interrupting your main logic.

WHY USE IT?

  • Live Debugging: Monitor internal state without logs.
  • Easy IPC: Any language (Python, Bash, Node.js) can control your C app by simply reading/writing files.
  • Zero Infrastructure: No sockets, no local servers, and no databases required.
  • High Performance: Reads/writes happen directly in your program's memory.

USE CASES:

  • System Daemons: Change logging levels on the fly.
  • Robotics/IoT: Monitor sensor data in real-time.
  • Simulation: Adjust parameters without restarting.
  • Game Servers: Track player counts and server health.

HOW TO BUILD:

  1. Install FUSE: sudo apt install libfuse-dev pkgconf
  2. Compile: gcc main.c -o app -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -lfuse -lpthread

HOW TO USE IN CODE: vfs_init("/tmp/vfs"); vfs_register_int("worker_count", &workers); vfs_register_str("app_status", status_buffer);

LICENSE: MIT License - Open for all.

Written by Nouridin.