inode_maybe_inc_iversion(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 inode_maybe_inc_iversion(9) — like, the whole page, bestie

okay so real talk, this one lives in the Kernel API Manual and it's genuinely one of those tiny functions that carries the whole vibe. let's get into it 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

inode_maybe_inc_iversion — it increments i_version. that's it. that's the function. iconic behavior honestly 🫶

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

bool inode_maybe_inc_iversion (struct inode *inode , bool force );

like look at her. two args, returns a bool, no cap.

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

  • inode — the inode whose i_version is the one getting updated. she's the main character of this whole operation 💖
  • force — do we increment the counter even if it's not necessary? like, are we doing this on purpose or what?

🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

so the rule, the whole entire law of the land: every single time the inode is modified, the i_version field must be seen to have changed by any observer. literally every time. no sneaky edits. the observers are watching 👀

now, if "force" is set, or the QUERIED flag is set? then bestie we are for sure incrementing the value, and we clear the queried flag while we're at it. slay ✨

but in the common case where neither one is set? we can just return "false" without touching i_version at all. lowkey efficient 💅

and here's the payoff — if this function returns false, and no other metadata has changed, then we can skip logging the metadata entirely. skipping work is the most valid thing a function can do fr fr 🙈

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

everything below lives in the kernel file ./fs/libfs.c, and yes we're listing every single one, i don't skip entries:

like, that's a whole friend group. go read them too 🧚

ok that's the page!! sourced from ./fs, dated October 2026, and this manual entry is literally titled inode_maybe_inc_iversion(9) in case you forgot already. mwah, go increment something responsibly 💜🌸
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