/dev/null on Windows

[extropalopakettle]

Whenever I have a directory called 'dev' on Windows (XP, 2000 also, I think), an empty file called 'null' magically appears in it (at some point - not immediately, I don't think). Anyone else see this? Is it some kind of lame joke/Easter-egg?

[jadesmar]

/dev/null is the bit bin, like a garbage can for program output.

It is a useful place for posix programmers to output information that they do not want. For example, if you do not want your program to display some error messages, you can redirect stderr to /dev/null and nothing will display or be stored.

[jesternl]

It doesn't work on WinNT or my Win2k server ?

[jadesmar]

Well, this should only appear when running some Posix compliant programs, it should also remain exactly 0 bytes in length.

[extropalopakettle]

It should appear under every directory called dev? Just create a directory, or several of them, called dev, anywhere on the file system, and bingo - a null gets put there? Seems odd.

[jadesmar]

Ok, what I am trying to say is:
1. All Unix systems have a file called /dev/null, Unix programmers or users can direct streams of characters into this and the characters will disappear.
2. Since the mid-80s IIRC, all Unix variants have attempted to standardize a programming interface. This interface is known as Posix.
3. Windows 2000, Windows XP and WinNT(I think) are posix compliant, and this would be a result of that.

[HyToFry]

Certainly not for me (win xp and NT4.0) It could be a virus that scans all directories, or a scanner, or some other app that watches all folders...

[extropalopakettle]