We even used to use it to defrag free space on a disk: clone the volume to another disk, and clone it back again. Why is cloning becoming so hard now?
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Until Big Sur started backing up to snapshots on APFS, there was little interest in being able to copy snapshots. Now we realise that we can’t.
Looking at what’s involved in updating Big Sur’s new Sealed System Volume shows what’s necessary for successful cloning.
Without addressing shortcomings in tools and maturity of macOS, 10.16 has flawed foundations, and is likely to fall flat.
Changes in Time Machine reflect continuing development of this Mac-only feature, backtracking on using FSEvents, and making backups more complete.
What do we want? Time Machine backing up to APFS storage. When do we want it? Well, not quite yet.
Coming up to its 12th birthday, Time Machine backups have changed a great deal, but still rely on a feature almost unique to HFS+. What is their future?
Was WWDC a damp squib after all? With only one new unaffordable Mac announced, and more dreadful privacy dialogs on their way, you might think so.
The Eclectic Light Company 