Bypass of the namespace hierarchy to open files

A computer implemented method of accessing a file comprising:

• randomly generating, by a unique number generator, a persistent unique identifier for a file being stored in a file system;
• attaching the persistent unique identifier to a file path to the file being stored in the file system, wherein the file path defines a path in the file system to the file and the file path includes information identifying a namespace;
• receiving, by a file system application program interface, the persistent unique identifier from an application;
• generating, by the file system application program interface, a path designation for the file by combining the unique identifier with the information that identifies the namespace;
• locating the file based on the path designation for the file;
• and
• accessing, by the file system, the file.

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including executable instructions that upon execution cause the computer system to access a file, the memory including;
• instructions for receiving, by a file system application program interface, a request to save a file from an application;
• unique number generator instructions for randomly generating a persistent unique identifier associated with the file;
• instructions for saving the file to the file system of an operating system,
• instructions for attaching the persistent unique identifier to a file path to the file in the file system, wherein the file path includes information that identifies a namespace that identifies a user account that is active when the file was created;
• instructions for receiving a request to search for the file from the application;
• instructions for searching the file system for the file, wherein the search uses the persistent unique identifier and the namespace as search parameters;
• instructions for locating the file;
• and
• instructions for sending the file to the application.