The gvfs library is a virtual file system for GNOME, allowing access to various file systems and protocols in a uniform manner.
Compared to other libraries like gnome-vfs, the GVFS model differs in that the filesystems must be mounted before they can be used. This is achieved using a central daemon, which is responsible for coordinating mounts. After that, each mount is usually on its own daemon process (although mounts can share daemon processes).
GVFS comes with a range of backends, including trash support, sftp, smb, http, dav, and many others. Furthermore, the library boasts of an impressive list of modules for gio that implement hal volume monitors and the gnome uri-scheme handler configuration. Lastly, GVFS has a set of command-line programs, all starting with "gvfs-" that allow users to run various commands (like cat, ls, stat, etc.) on files in the GVFS mounts.
Overall, GVFS is a very efficient library that is easy to use, and it comes with a wide range of features and modules that ensure seamless integration and user-friendliness. With more backends already planned, it is a reliable library for all your virtual filesystem needs.
Version 1.4.1: N/A