Modetc: Move your dotfiles from kernel space

3 months ago

modetc is a Linux kernel module that rewrites paths in file operations, allowing users to move files while keeping programs unaware of the changes.
Main use case: moving dotfiles from the home directory to comply with XDG basedir standards, e.g., moving ~/.ssh to ~/var/lib/ssh.
Configuration is done via module parameters: homedir, default_rule, rules_file, and debug.
Rules are simple text search and replace operations, applied in order, with a maximum of 16 rules supported.
Runtime commands can be sent to modetc via /proc/modetc, such as pausing rewriting or reloading rules.
Building instructions include using Nix or a basic toolchain with make.
Installation varies by distribution, with specific instructions for NixOS and others.
Works by inserting kprobes in VFS layer functions to modify file paths in kernel space.
Advantages over alternatives (libetc, rewritefs): works with statically linked programs, minimal overhead, and quick toggling.
Licensed under GNU GPL v3 or later.

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