Bug 193748

Summary:	Userland support for libzfs and libzfs_core feature request
Product:	Base System	Reporter:	Sean Sill <sms3h2>
Component:	kern	Assignee:	freebsd-fs (Nobody) <fs>
Status:	Closed FIXED
Severity:	Affects Some People	CC:	asomers, maciej, msl0000023508
Priority:	---
Version:	10.0-RELEASE
Hardware:	Any
OS:	Any

Description Sean Sill 2014-09-18 14:04:44 UTC

Currently to compile against libzfs, or libzfs_core you need to have the entire kernel source available. Compiling against it is also a pain as many kernel only types seem to "leak" through or are present and shouldn't have to be. There should be a port for zfs-devel or something similar with the required headers need to link compile against libzfs, or libzfs_core.

Comment 1 WHR 2021-09-09 04:13:05 UTC

Link to #257222.

Comment 2 WHR 2021-09-09 04:13:54 UTC

Link to bug #257222.

Comment 3 Alan Somers freebsd_committer

2021-09-09 04:39:42 UTC

The thing about libzfs is that it is not a stable interface.  It was never intended to be one, and never has been.  It changes frequently, and in non-backwards compatible ways.  That's why its use is highly discouraged by programs outside of the base system.  The few that do use it (sysutils/py-iocage for example) typically break during an OS upgrade.

libzfs_core, OTOH, _is_ a stable interface.  It has a simple API, very similar to what the zfs command line tools provide.  And it's guaranteed to preserve backwards compatibility.

FreeBSD 13+ include libzfs_core.h in /usr/include, and libzfs_core is finally mature enough that you can write useful applications with it.  So I think this bug is finally resolved.