System and method for performing context aware operating file system virtualization

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors, causes the one or more computer processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• initializing a context aware virtualization module on a client device, the initializing including the context aware virtualization module beginning to project files from a source control system into a file system of a computer operating system on the client device, wherein the files are associated with a project within an application, and wherein the projecting includes making the files appear and behave as files stored on the client device even though contents of the files are not stored on the client device;
• creating, by the context aware virtualization module, a virtualization application programming interface (API) through which the application communicates directly with the context aware virtualization module to perform operations in addition to operations accessible via an operating system virtual file system module on the client device;
• during operation of the application, determining that data within a file of the projected files is required for an operation of the application, wherein the application requires the data in a target data format that is different from an initial data format of the file, and determining a content identifier for the data;
• searching a data structure in a cache memory for a hash associated with the file, the hash identifying a converted version of the file in the target data format;
• and
• based on the hash being found in the data structure, using the hash substantially immediately or, based on the hash not being found in the data structure, reading the file from the source control system via the operating system virtual file system module, converting the data from the initial data format to the target data format, calculating the hash for the file, and storing the hash and the content identifier in the data structure in the cache memory for speeding up subsequent access to the data.

A method comprising:

• initializing a context aware virtualization module on a client device, the initializing including the context aware virtualization module beginning to project files from a source control system into a file system of a computer operating system on the client device, wherein the files are associated with a project within an application, and wherein the projecting includes making the files appear and behave as files stored on the client device even though contents of the files are not stored on the client device;
• creating, by the context aware virtualization module, a virtualization application programming interface (API) through which the application communicates directly with the context aware virtualization module to perform operations in addition to operations accessible via an operating system virtual file system module on the client device;
• during operation of the application, determining that data within a file of the projected files is required for an operation of the application, wherein the application requires the data in a target data format that is different from an initial data format of the file, and determining a content identifier for the data;
• searching a data structure in a cache memory for a hash associated with the file, the hash identifying a converted version of the file in the target data format;
• and
• based on the hash being found in the data structure, using the hash substantially immediately or, based on the hash not being found in the data structure, reading the file from the source control system via the operating system virtual file system module, converting the data from the initial data format to the target data format, calculating the hash for the file, and storing the hash and the content identifier in the data structure in the cache memory for speeding up subsequent access to the data.