πFS(github.com)
933 points by helterskelter 1 day ago | 201 comments
tl;dr: πfs is a satirical FUSE filesystem that "stores" your data in the digits of π, exploiting the conjecture that π is a normal number containing every possible finite sequence. In practice, it looks up each byte's location within π and saves those indices as metadata—meaning the "metadata" ends up larger than the original data, and writing a 400-line text file takes five minutes. The repo now points to a successor project, inferencefs.
HN Discussion:
  • Connects the project to information theory, noting address size equals data size
  • Reminded of similar data-free or fake compression projects
  • ~Pedantic note that pi's normality is only conjectured, not proven
  • ~Suggests Champernowne constant would be a better choice since normality is proven
  • Philosophical musing extending the concept to simulation theory and universe snapshots