Re: Photo import problems using python

[Alexander Larsson <alexl redhat com>]

On Sun, 2010-01-24 at 14:38 -0600, Damon Lynch wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am the developer of Rapid Photo Downloader, a GPL photo
> downloader/importer mainly written for professional and serious
> photographers: http://damonlynch.net/rapid/
> 
> My users have faced some serious problems using the GVFS/GIO
> combination to download from cameras, including very poor performance,
> file truncation, or not working at all.
> 
> Rapid Photo Downloader is implemented in python; it is multi-threaded
> and can download from multiple devices simultaneously. Last year I
> added the feature to import directly from cameras using GIO, beginning
> the transition from gnomevfs.  Thus far most of the code changes have
> been very simple, e.g. using gio.volume_monitor_get() instead of
> gnomevfs.VolumeMonitor(). The code continues to use standard python
> file commands such as shutil.copy2(), accessing the mount point
> created in the user's home directory via FUSE. 
> 
> My questions:
>      1. Is accessing a camera via FUSE meant to "just work" in the use
>         scenario I have, or are there limitations I need to be aware
>         of?

We try to make the fuse stuff work as well as possible, but generally
many backends don't map well to the posix semantics, so some details may
work less well. Also, its another layer adding possible bugs.

>      1. If the answer to #1 is "no", does that mean I need to figure
>         out how to use the python library gio.File?

This shouldn't be that hard. The APIs are not that complex.

>      1. Would using gio.File in any case improve program performance?
>         The program is meant to be "rapid" after all ;-)

Yes, using GFile means you'll be talking directly to the mount process,
whereas with fuse you'll be copying all data an extra time in the fuse
process.

>      1. What is the best way to report bugs for using GVFS, GIO &
>         FUSE? I reported this bug but nothing came of it:
>         https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=582266

Its reported to the right place, but as always the resources are limited
and its not uncommon for non-critical bugs to not get much feedback,
especially things that involve specific hardware or setups. Its an
unfortunate reality of free software, we do the best we can, but its not
always good enough. 

If you really want a particular bug fixed the you could try looking at
it yourself. If you can e.g. figure out a more precise description of
the bug or a way to reproduce it easier then its easier for us to fix
it. 

-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Alexander Larsson                                            Red Hat, Inc 
       alexl redhat com            alexander larsson gmail com 
He's a suicidal albino cop on a mission from God. She's a virginal paranoid 
socialite living homeless in New York's sewers. They fight crime!