File creation API

A computer readable media that stores an application program interface (API) for dynamically creating filesystems on computer readable media in a computer, wherein when executed the API causes the computer to execute the method comprising:

• defining a filesystem structure for each filesystem, each filesystem structure comprising plural filesystem objects, each filesystem object having at least one callback function that identifies a source of data for a respective object;
• storing the filesystem structure in memory of the computer without storing the data from the identified sources as part of the stored filesystem structures in an image of each filesystem, wherein the data for each filesystem object is stored at the identified source;
• retrieving the data for each filesystem object from the source indicated by the callback function through a decompression or decryption operation;
• and
• writing each filesystem onto the computer readable media based on the retrieved data of a respective filesystem object.

A computer system for creating filesystems wherein the computer system, includes a processor that executes an operating system, the operating system including at least one API, said API being configured to perform the steps of:

• building a filesystem structure for each filesystem, wherein each filesystem structure includes plural filesystem objects, each filesystem object having at least one respective callback function that identifies a source of data;
• storing each filesystem structure in memory without storing the data from the identified sources as part of the stored filesystem structures in an image of each filesystem, wherein the data for each filesystem object is stored at the identified source;
• and
• retrieving the data for each filesystem object from the source identified by the respective callback function in real-time.