From their use to replicate floppy disks in manufacture, to their key roles in macOS, for distribution of software, and on network servers to contain backups. Unglamorous but essential.
disk image
Why does compressing a 15 GB file within a sparse bundle run more slowly than would be expected from its write performance?
Why pay an extra $600 for a 2 TB internal SSD, after all fast external SSDs are cheaper. Maybe you need to check whether disk performance becomes a rate-limiting factor.
How do sparse bundles and read-write disk images compare with regard to their efficient use of disk space, and in maintenance requirements? Here are test results from Sequoia.
Sparse bundles (UDSB), read-write disk images (UDRW) and sparse images (UDSP) compared on two SSD, with and without container encryption.
The only disk images of varying size used to be sparse bundles and sparse disk images. Now plain read-write disk images can also vary in the disk space they take, as explained here.
Which are the best tools for the occasional user? For someone who creates disk images to distribute sofware? Or for hacking sparse bundles?
Focussing on sparse bundles and UDIF read-write disk images, this explains their types, structure, how their size can change, and how fast they are in use.
Safari and its supporting frameworks and components, used to be installed in the Data volume, but now come in cryptexes. These also account for the larger macOS updates for Apple silicon.
What can cause low copy speeds for very large and possibly sparse files, such as VMs? Causes explained, and tools you can use to discover why.
