Re: Could timestamps be replaced with MD5?

[Larry Jones]

Pavel Roskin writes:
> 
> If one is _so_ suspicious, rsync isn't going to help. If you don't trust
> checksums and MD5 you need to send whole files, as if they all have been
> touched _and_ the checksum.
> 
> However, rsync can be an option for the "normal" use (i.e. not for nuclear
> weapons and similar toys).

Indeed.  Since the rsync algorithm uses two different checksums over
fixed-size blocks (rather than a single algorithm across an entire
file), the chances of errors are greatly reduced (from microscopic to
infinitessimal) and I'd say enhancing CVS to use it would be a far more
valuable change than just using checksums in addition to (or instead of)
timestamps.

-Larry Jones

Aw Mom, you act like I'm not even wearing a bungee cord! -- Calvin