‘Apple File System’ Is the Company’s New File System for watchOS, iOS, tvOS, and macOS

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 13 Jun 2016

iCloud Drive in macOS Sierra

It has long been rumored that Apple is working on a new file system to replace the archaic HFS+ file system that macOS currently uses. The company was expected to announce a new file system as a part of the macOS 10.12 release at WWDC’s opening keynote, but that did not happen. However, Apple is indeed working on a new file system called ‘Apple File System’ and it plans on using them on more than just Macs.

In its documentation, the company says that AFPS is a next-generation file system that is aimed for iOS, macOS tvOS, and watchOS. The file system is optimised for Flash/SSD storage, with features like strong encryption, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, and more.

Apple File System is a new, modern file system for iOS, OS X, tvOS and watchOS. It is optimized for Flash/SSD storage and features strong encryption, copy-on-write metadata, space sharing, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, fast directory sizing, atomic safe-save primitives, and improved file system fundamentals.

AFPS supports “nearly all” the features of HFS+, and offers its own set of advantages like 64-bit inode numbers, 1 nanosecond timestamp granularity, an expansive block allocator, and support for sparse files.

Apple mentions in its documentation that AFPS is being released as a Developer Preview as a part of macOS Sierra 10.12, and it is scheduled to ship in 2017.

[Via Apple]