Merge branch 'master' into relativepaths

Conflicts:
	Locations.hs
	debian/changelog

59 files changed, 231 insertions, 115 deletions

diff --git a/Annex/Content.hs b/Annex/Content.hs
index 37090d3bb..2d52dcefb 100644
--- a/Annex/Content.hs
+++ b/Annex/Content.hs
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ finishGetViaTmp check key action = do
 prepTmp :: Key -> Annex FilePath
 prepTmp key = do
 	tmp <- fromRepo $ gitAnnexTmpObjectLocation key
-	createAnnexDirectory (parentDir tmp)
+	createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory tmp)
 	return tmp
 
 {- Creates a temp file for a key, runs an action on it, and cleans up
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ cleanObjectLoc key cleaner = do
   where
 	removeparents _ 0 = noop
 	removeparents file n = do
-		let dir = parentDir file
+		let dir = takeDirectory file
 		maybe noop (const $ removeparents dir (n-1))
 			<=< catchMaybeIO $ removeDirectory dir
 
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ moveBad key = do
 	src <- calcRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
 	bad <- fromRepo gitAnnexBadDir
 	let dest = bad </> takeFileName src
-	createAnnexDirectory (parentDir dest)
+	createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory dest)
 	cleanObjectLoc key $
 		liftIO $ moveFile src dest
 	logStatus key InfoMissing
diff --git a/Annex/Content/Direct.hs b/Annex/Content/Direct.hs
index c09a08f0d..43defdca3 100644
--- a/Annex/Content/Direct.hs
+++ b/Annex/Content/Direct.hs
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ sentinalStatus = maybe check return =<< Annex.getState Annex.sentinalstatus
 createInodeSentinalFile :: Annex ()
 createInodeSentinalFile = unlessM (alreadyexists <||> hasobjects) $ do
 	s <- annexSentinalFile
-	createAnnexDirectory (parentDir (sentinalFile s))
+	createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory (sentinalFile s))
 	liftIO $ writeSentinalFile s
   where
 	alreadyexists = liftIO. sentinalFileExists =<< annexSentinalFile
diff --git a/Annex/Direct.hs b/Annex/Direct.hs
index 15eb04060..710227e7e 100644
--- a/Annex/Direct.hs
+++ b/Annex/Direct.hs
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ updateWorkTree d oldref = do
 	 - Empty work tree directories are removed, per git behavior. -}
 	moveout_raw _ _ f = liftIO $ do
 		nukeFile f
-		void $ tryIO $ removeDirectory $ parentDir f
+		void $ tryIO $ removeDirectory $ takeDirectory f
 	
 	{- If the file is already present, with the right content for the
 	 - key, it's left alone. 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ updateWorkTree d oldref = do
 	movein_raw item makeabs f = do
 		preserveUnannexed item makeabs f oldref
 		liftIO $ do
-			createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir f
+			createDirectoryIfMissing True $ takeDirectory f
 			void $ tryIO $ rename (d </> getTopFilePath (DiffTree.file item)) f
 
 {- If the file that's being moved in is already present in the work
@@ -309,13 +309,14 @@ preserveUnannexed item makeabs absf oldref = do
 	checkdirs (DiffTree.file item)
   where
 	checkdirs from = do
-		let p = parentDir (getTopFilePath from)
-		let d = asTopFilePath p
-		unless (null p) $ do
-			let absd = makeabs d
-			whenM (liftIO (colliding_nondir absd) <&&> unannexed absd) $
-				liftIO $ findnewname absd 0
-			checkdirs d
+		case parentDir (getTopFilePath from) of
+			Nothing -> noop
+			Just p -> do
+				let d = asTopFilePath p
+				let absd = makeabs d
+				whenM (liftIO (colliding_nondir absd) <&&> unannexed absd) $
+					liftIO $ findnewname absd 0
+				checkdirs d
 			
 	collidingitem f = isJust
 		<$> catchMaybeIO (getSymbolicLinkStatus f)
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ removeDirect k f = do
 			)
 	liftIO $ do
 		nukeFile f
-		void $ tryIO $ removeDirectory $ parentDir f
+		void $ tryIO $ removeDirectory $ takeDirectory f
 
 {- Called when a direct mode file has been changed. Its old content may be
  - lost. -}
diff --git a/Annex/Perms.hs b/Annex/Perms.hs
index 3430554c7..d314e382c 100644
--- a/Annex/Perms.hs
+++ b/Annex/Perms.hs
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ annexFileMode = withShared $ return . go
 createAnnexDirectory :: FilePath -> Annex ()
 createAnnexDirectory dir = traverse dir [] =<< top
   where
-	top = parentDir <$> fromRepo gitAnnexDir
+	top = takeDirectory <$> fromRepo gitAnnexDir
 	traverse d below stop
 		| d `equalFilePath` stop = done
 		| otherwise = ifM (liftIO $ doesDirectoryExist d)
 			( done
-			, traverse (parentDir d) (d:below) stop
+			, traverse (takeDirectory d) (d:below) stop
 			)
 	  where
 		done = forM_ below $ \p -> do
@@ -92,14 +92,14 @@ freezeContentDir :: FilePath -> Annex ()
 freezeContentDir file = unlessM crippledFileSystem $
 	liftIO . go =<< fromRepo getSharedRepository
   where
-	dir = parentDir file
+	dir = takeDirectory file
 	go GroupShared = groupWriteRead dir
 	go AllShared = groupWriteRead dir
 	go _ = preventWrite dir
 
 thawContentDir :: FilePath -> Annex ()
 thawContentDir file = unlessM crippledFileSystem $
-	liftIO $ allowWrite $ parentDir file
+	liftIO $ allowWrite $ takeDirectory file
 
 {- Makes the directory tree to store an annexed file's content,
  - with appropriate permissions on each level. -}
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ createContentDir dest = do
 	unlessM crippledFileSystem $
 		liftIO $ allowWrite dir
   where
-	dir = parentDir dest
+	dir = takeDirectory dest
 
 {- Creates the content directory for a file if it doesn't already exist,
  - or thaws it if it does, then runs an action to modify the file, and
diff --git a/Annex/ReplaceFile.hs b/Annex/ReplaceFile.hs
index 0355ddd51..4bb99b370 100644
--- a/Annex/ReplaceFile.hs
+++ b/Annex/ReplaceFile.hs
@@ -46,5 +46,5 @@ replaceFileFrom src dest = go `catchIO` fallback
   where
 	go = moveFile src dest
 	fallback _ = do
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir dest
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True $ takeDirectory dest
 		go
diff --git a/Annex/Ssh.hs b/Annex/Ssh.hs
index 15b169862..2eb8c97dd 100644
--- a/Annex/Ssh.hs
+++ b/Annex/Ssh.hs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ prepSocket socketfile = do
 	-- Cleanup at end of this run.
 	Annex.addCleanup SshCachingCleanup sshCleanup
 
-	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir socketfile
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True $ takeDirectory socketfile
 	lockFileShared $ socket2lock socketfile
 
 enumSocketFiles :: Annex [FilePath]
diff --git a/Assistant.hs b/Assistant.hs
index 2ba778d80..0c7aa2c56 100644
--- a/Assistant.hs
+++ b/Assistant.hs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ startDaemon assistant foreground startdelay cannotrun listenhost startbrowser =
 	logfile <- fromRepo gitAnnexLogFile
 	liftIO $ debugM desc $ "logging to " ++ logfile
 #ifndef mingw32_HOST_OS
-	createAnnexDirectory (parentDir logfile)
+	createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory logfile)
 	logfd <- liftIO $ handleToFd =<< openLog logfile
 	if foreground
 		then do
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ startDaemon assistant foreground startdelay cannotrun listenhost startbrowser =
 	-- log file. The only way to do so is to restart the program.
 	when (foreground || not foreground) $ do
 		let flag = "GIT_ANNEX_OUTPUT_REDIR"
-		createAnnexDirectory (parentDir logfile)
+		createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory logfile)
 		ifM (liftIO $ isNothing <$> getEnv flag)
 			( liftIO $ withFile devNull WriteMode $ \nullh -> do
 				loghandle <- openLog logfile
diff --git a/Assistant/Install.hs b/Assistant/Install.hs
index e2d52692e..e30de173c 100644
--- a/Assistant/Install.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Install.hs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ ensureInstalled = go =<< standaloneAppBase
 	go (Just base) = do
 		let program = base </> "git-annex"
 		programfile <- programFile
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir programfile)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory programfile)
 		writeFile programfile program
 
 #ifdef darwin_HOST_OS
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ installWrapper :: FilePath -> String -> IO ()
 installWrapper file content = do
 	curr <- catchDefaultIO "" $ readFileStrict file
 	when (curr /= content) $ do
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 		viaTmp writeFile file content
 		modifyFileMode file $ addModes [ownerExecuteMode]
 
diff --git a/Assistant/Install/AutoStart.hs b/Assistant/Install/AutoStart.hs
index b03d20224..7e0c7507b 100644
--- a/Assistant/Install/AutoStart.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Install/AutoStart.hs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import System.Directory
 installAutoStart :: FilePath -> FilePath -> IO ()
 installAutoStart command file = do
 #ifdef darwin_HOST_OS
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 	writeFile file $ genOSXAutoStartFile osxAutoStartLabel command
 		["assistant", "--autostart"]
 #else
diff --git a/Assistant/Install/Menu.hs b/Assistant/Install/Menu.hs
index d095cdd88..15ef5534d 100644
--- a/Assistant/Install/Menu.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Install/Menu.hs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ fdoDesktopMenu command = genDesktopEntry
 
 installIcon :: FilePath -> FilePath -> IO ()
 installIcon src dest = do
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 	withBinaryFile src ReadMode $ \hin ->
 		withBinaryFile dest WriteMode $ \hout ->
 			hGetContents hin >>= hPutStr hout
diff --git a/Assistant/Ssh.hs b/Assistant/Ssh.hs
index 7b82f4624..fa481a186 100644
--- a/Assistant/Ssh.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Ssh.hs
@@ -233,7 +233,8 @@ genSshKeyPair = withTmpDir "git-annex-keygen" $ \dir -> do
 setupSshKeyPair :: SshKeyPair -> SshData -> IO SshData
 setupSshKeyPair sshkeypair sshdata = do
 	sshdir <- sshDir
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir $ sshdir </> sshprivkeyfile
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True $
+		takeDirectory $ sshdir </> sshprivkeyfile
 
 	unlessM (doesFileExist $ sshdir </> sshprivkeyfile) $
 		writeFileProtected (sshdir </> sshprivkeyfile) (sshPrivKey sshkeypair)
diff --git a/Assistant/Threads/UpgradeWatcher.hs b/Assistant/Threads/UpgradeWatcher.hs
index 431e6f339..401215999 100644
--- a/Assistant/Threads/UpgradeWatcher.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Threads/UpgradeWatcher.hs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ upgradeWatcherThread urlrenderer = namedThread "UpgradeWatcher" $ do
 			, modifyHook = changed
 			, delDirHook = changed
 			}
-		let dir = parentDir flagfile
+		let dir = takeDirectory flagfile
 		let depth = length (splitPath dir) + 1
 		let nosubdirs f = length (splitPath f) == depth
 		void $ liftIO $ watchDir dir nosubdirs False hooks (startup mvar)
diff --git a/Backend/URL.hs b/Backend/URL.hs
index 2c2988ac0..ac517a5f3 100644
--- a/Backend/URL.hs
+++ b/Backend/URL.hs
@@ -32,10 +32,8 @@ backend = Backend
 
 {- Every unique url has a corresponding key. -}
 fromUrl :: String -> Maybe Integer -> Annex Key
-fromUrl url size = do
-	n <- genKeyName url
-	return $ stubKey
-		{ keyName = n
-		, keyBackendName = "URL"
-		, keySize = size
-		}
+fromUrl url size = return $ stubKey
+	{ keyName = genKeyName url
+	, keyBackendName = "URL"
+	, keySize = size
+	}
diff --git a/Backend/Utilities.hs b/Backend/Utilities.hs
index 24dbfd6d9..6426353e7 100644
--- a/Backend/Utilities.hs
+++ b/Backend/Utilities.hs
@@ -13,13 +13,18 @@ import Common.Annex
 
 {- Generates a keyName from an input string. Takes care of sanitizing it.
  - If it's not too long, the full string is used as the keyName.
- - Otherwise, it's truncated at half the filename length limit, and its
- - md5 is prepended to ensure a unique key. -}
-genKeyName :: String -> Annex String
-genKeyName s = do
-	limit <- liftIO . fileNameLengthLimit =<< fromRepo gitAnnexDir
-	let s' = preSanitizeKeyName s
-	let truncs = truncateFilePath (limit `div` 2) s'
-	return $ if s' == truncs
-		then s'
-		else truncs ++ "-" ++ md5s (Str s)
+ - Otherwise, it's truncated, and its md5 is prepended to ensure a unique
+ - key. -}
+genKeyName :: String -> String
+genKeyName s
+	-- Avoid making keys longer than the length of a SHA256 checksum.
+	| bytelen > sha256len =
+		truncateFilePath (sha256len - md5len - 1) s' ++ "-" ++ md5s (Str s)
+	| otherwise = s'
+  where
+	s' = preSanitizeKeyName s
+	bytelen = length (decodeW8 s')
+
+	sha256len = 64
+	md5len = 32
+
diff --git a/Backend/WORM.hs b/Backend/WORM.hs
index de7779bb3..bd5e374e1 100644
--- a/Backend/WORM.hs
+++ b/Backend/WORM.hs
@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ keyValue :: KeySource -> Annex (Maybe Key)
 keyValue source = do
 	stat <- liftIO $ getFileStatus $ contentLocation source
 	relf <- getTopFilePath <$> inRepo (toTopFilePath $ keyFilename source)
-	n <- genKeyName relf
 	return $ Just $ stubKey
-		{ keyName = n
+		{ keyName = genKeyName relf
 		, keyBackendName = name backend
 		, keySize = Just $ fromIntegral $ fileSize stat
 		, keyMtime = Just $ modificationTime stat
diff --git a/Build/DesktopFile.hs b/Build/DesktopFile.hs
index 6a5838f81..5eab68756 100644
--- a/Build/DesktopFile.hs
+++ b/Build/DesktopFile.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import Assistant.Install.Menu
 import Control.Applicative
 import System.Directory
 import System.Environment
+import System.FilePath
 #ifndef mingw32_HOST_OS
 import System.Posix.User
 #endif
@@ -75,6 +76,6 @@ install command = do
 		( return ()
 		, do
 			programfile <- inDestDir =<< programFile
-			createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir programfile)
+			createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory programfile)
 			writeFile programfile command
 		)
diff --git a/Build/DistributionUpdate.hs b/Build/DistributionUpdate.hs
index 2058f4be4..d7fb373c8 100644
--- a/Build/DistributionUpdate.hs
+++ b/Build/DistributionUpdate.hs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ getbuild repodir (url, f) = do
 	let dest = repodir </> f
 	let tmp = dest ++ ".tmp"
 	nukeFile tmp
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 	let oops s = do
 		nukeFile tmp
 		putStrLn $ "*** " ++ s
diff --git a/Build/EvilSplicer.hs b/Build/EvilSplicer.hs
index fc41c624f..81d4e37c7 100644
--- a/Build/EvilSplicer.hs
+++ b/Build/EvilSplicer.hs
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ applySplices destdir imports splices@(first:_) = do
 	let f = splicedFile first
 	let dest = (destdir </> f)
 	lls <- map (++ "\n") . lines <$> readFileStrictAnyEncoding f
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 	let newcontent = concat $ addimports $ expand lls splices
 	oldcontent <- catchMaybeIO $ readFileStrictAnyEncoding dest
 	when (oldcontent /= Just newcontent) $ do
diff --git a/Build/LinuxMkLibs.hs b/Build/LinuxMkLibs.hs
index 1ca2fa651..f3a7c3b2e 100644
--- a/Build/LinuxMkLibs.hs
+++ b/Build/LinuxMkLibs.hs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ mklibs top = do
 	writeFile (top </> "linker")
 		(Prelude.head $ filter ("ld-linux" `isInfixOf`) libs')
 	writeFile (top </> "gconvdir")
-		(parentDir $ Prelude.head $ filter ("/gconv/" `isInfixOf`) glibclibs)
+		(takeDirectory $ Prelude.head $ filter ("/gconv/" `isInfixOf`) glibclibs)
 	
 	mapM_ (installLinkerShim top) exes
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ installLinkerShim top exe = do
 symToHardLink :: FilePath -> IO ()
 symToHardLink f = whenM (isSymbolicLink <$> getSymbolicLinkStatus f) $ do
 	l <- readSymbolicLink f
-	let absl = absPathFrom (parentDir f) l
+	let absl = absPathFrom (takeDirectory f) l
 	nukeFile f
 	createLink absl f
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ installFile top f = do
 	createDirectoryIfMissing True destdir
 	void $ copyFileExternal CopyTimeStamps f destdir
   where
-	destdir = inTop top $ parentDir f
+	destdir = inTop top $ takeDirectory f
 
 checkExe :: FilePath -> IO Bool
 checkExe f
diff --git a/Build/OSXMkLibs.hs b/Build/OSXMkLibs.hs
index ef668bb4a..57f74f0e0 100644
--- a/Build/OSXMkLibs.hs
+++ b/Build/OSXMkLibs.hs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ installLibs appbase replacement_libs libmap = do
 		ifM (doesFileExist dest)
 			( return Nothing
 			, do
-				createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+				createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 				putStrLn $ "installing " ++ pathlib ++ " as " ++ shortlib
 				_ <- boolSystem "cp" [File pathlib, File dest]
 				_ <- boolSystem "chmod" [Param "644", File dest]
diff --git a/CmdLine/Seek.hs b/CmdLine/Seek.hs
index 9a874807b..b35e39ba0 100644
--- a/CmdLine/Seek.hs
+++ b/CmdLine/Seek.hs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ withPathContents a params = seekActions $
 	map a . concat <$> liftIO (mapM get params)
   where
 	get p = ifM (isDirectory <$> getFileStatus p)
-		( map (\f -> (f, makeRelative (parentDir p) f))
+		( map (\f -> (f, makeRelative (takeDirectory p) f))
 			<$> dirContentsRecursiveSkipping (".git" `isSuffixOf`) True p
 		, return [(p, takeFileName p)]
 		)
diff --git a/Command/AddUrl.hs b/Command/AddUrl.hs
index 97adc75ee..a5fa53ca0 100644
--- a/Command/AddUrl.hs
+++ b/Command/AddUrl.hs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ performRemote r relaxed uri file sz = ifAnnexed file adduri geturi
 downloadRemoteFile :: Remote -> Bool -> URLString -> FilePath -> Maybe Integer -> Annex (Maybe Key)
 downloadRemoteFile r relaxed uri file sz = do
 	urlkey <- Backend.URL.fromUrl uri sz
-	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 	ifM (Annex.getState Annex.fast <||> pure relaxed)
 		( do
 			cleanup (Remote.uuid r) loguri file urlkey Nothing
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ addUrlFileQuvi relaxed quviurl videourl file = do
 				showOutput
 				ok <- Transfer.notifyTransfer Transfer.Download (Just file) $
 					Transfer.download webUUID key (Just file) Transfer.forwardRetry $ const $ do
-						liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir tmp)
+						liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory tmp)
 						downloadUrl [videourl] tmp
 				if ok
 					then do
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ addUrlChecked relaxed url u checkexistssize key
 
 addUrlFile :: Bool -> URLString -> FilePath -> Annex (Maybe Key)
 addUrlFile relaxed url file = do
-	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 	ifM (Annex.getState Annex.fast <||> pure relaxed)
 		( nodownload relaxed url file
 		, downloadWeb url file
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ downloadWith downloader dummykey u url file =
   where
 	runtransfer tmp =  Transfer.notifyTransfer Transfer.Download (Just file) $
 		Transfer.download u dummykey (Just file) Transfer.forwardRetry $ \p -> do
-			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir tmp)
+			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory tmp)
 			downloader tmp p
 
 {- Hits the url to get the size, if available.
diff --git a/Command/Fix.hs b/Command/Fix.hs
index 774ef8583..956ea4352 100644
--- a/Command/Fix.hs
+++ b/Command/Fix.hs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ perform file link = do
 			<$> getSymbolicLinkStatus file
 #endif
 #endif
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 		removeFile file
 		createSymbolicLink link file
 #ifdef WITH_CLIBS
diff --git a/Command/FromKey.hs b/Command/FromKey.hs
index 3b20749fe..96da895ed 100644
--- a/Command/FromKey.hs
+++ b/Command/FromKey.hs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ start _ = error "specify a key and a dest file"
 perform :: Key -> FilePath -> CommandPerform
 perform key file = do
 	link <- inRepo $ gitAnnexLink file key
-	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 	liftIO $ createSymbolicLink link file
 	next $ cleanup file
 
diff --git a/Command/Fsck.hs b/Command/Fsck.hs
index 46c1620f1..837e68ea8 100644
--- a/Command/Fsck.hs
+++ b/Command/Fsck.hs
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ fixLink key file = do
 	go want have
 		| want /= fromInternalGitPath have = do
 			showNote "fixing link"
-			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 			liftIO $ removeFile file
 			addAnnexLink want file
 		| otherwise = noop
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ verifyLocationLog key desc = do
 	file <- calcRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
 	when (present && not direct) $
 		freezeContent file
-	whenM (liftIO $ doesDirectoryExist $ parentDir file) $
+	whenM (liftIO $ doesDirectoryExist $ takeDirectory file) $
 		freezeContentDir file
 
 	{- In direct mode, modified files will show up as not present,
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ needFsck _ _ = return True
  -}
 recordFsckTime :: Key -> Annex ()
 recordFsckTime key = do
-	parent <- parentDir <$> calcRepo (gitAnnexLocation key)
+	parent <- takeDirectory <$> calcRepo (gitAnnexLocation key)
 	liftIO $ void $ tryIO $ do
 		touchFile parent
 #ifndef mingw32_HOST_OS
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ recordFsckTime key = do
 
 getFsckTime :: Key -> Annex (Maybe EpochTime)
 getFsckTime key = do
-	parent <- parentDir <$> calcRepo (gitAnnexLocation key)
+	parent <- takeDirectory <$> calcRepo (gitAnnexLocation key)
 	liftIO $ catchDefaultIO Nothing $ do
 		s <- getFileStatus parent
 		return $ if isSticky $ fileMode s
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ getFsckTime key = do
 recordStartTime :: Annex ()
 recordStartTime = do
 	f <- fromRepo gitAnnexFsckState
-	createAnnexDirectory $ parentDir f
+	createAnnexDirectory $ takeDirectory f
 	liftIO $ do
 		nukeFile f
 		withFile f WriteMode $ \h -> do
diff --git a/Command/FuzzTest.hs b/Command/FuzzTest.hs
index 87bee963f..a2a474d31 100644
--- a/Command/FuzzTest.hs
+++ b/Command/FuzzTest.hs
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ instance Arbitrary FuzzAction where
 
 runFuzzAction :: FuzzAction -> Annex ()
 runFuzzAction (FuzzAdd (FuzzFile f)) = liftIO $ do
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir f
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True $ takeDirectory f
 	n <- getStdRandom random :: IO Int
 	writeFile f $ show n ++ "\n"
 runFuzzAction (FuzzDelete (FuzzFile f)) = liftIO $ nukeFile f
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ genFuzzAction = do
 			case md of
 				Nothing -> genFuzzAction
 				Just d -> do
-					newd <- liftIO $ newDir (parentDir $ toFilePath d)
+					newd <- liftIO $ newDir (takeDirectory $ toFilePath d)
 					maybe genFuzzAction (return . FuzzMoveDir d) newd
 		FuzzDeleteDir _ -> do
 			d <- liftIO existingDir
diff --git a/Command/Import.hs b/Command/Import.hs
index b20e63853..113df19ac 100644
--- a/Command/Import.hs
+++ b/Command/Import.hs
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ start mode (srcfile, destfile) =
 		next $ return True
 	importfile = do
 		handleexisting =<< liftIO (catchMaybeIO $ getSymbolicLinkStatus destfile)
-		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir destfile)
+		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory destfile)
 		liftIO $ if mode == Duplicate || mode == SkipDuplicates
 			then void $ copyFileExternal CopyAllMetaData srcfile destfile
 			else moveFile srcfile destfile
diff --git a/Command/ImportFeed.hs b/Command/ImportFeed.hs
index c45fad961..05dc4f3e4 100644
--- a/Command/ImportFeed.hs
+++ b/Command/ImportFeed.hs
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ checkFeedBroken' url f = do
 	now <- liftIO getCurrentTime
 	case prev of
 		Nothing -> do
-			createAnnexDirectory (parentDir f)
+			createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory f)
 			liftIO $ writeFile f $ show now
 			return False
 		Just prevtime -> do
diff --git a/Command/Unlock.hs b/Command/Unlock.hs
index 56c4f1dc0..75df99332 100644
--- a/Command/Unlock.hs
+++ b/Command/Unlock.hs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ perform dest key = ifM (checkDiskSpace Nothing key 0)
 	( do
 		src <- calcRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
 		tmpdest <- fromRepo $ gitAnnexTmpObjectLocation key
-		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir tmpdest)
+		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory tmpdest)
 		showAction "copying"
 		ifM (liftIO $ copyFileExternal CopyAllMetaData src tmpdest)
 			( do
diff --git a/Command/Vicfg.hs b/Command/Vicfg.hs
index 8fc10deb5..12a6084bd 100644
--- a/Command/Vicfg.hs
+++ b/Command/Vicfg.hs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ seek = withNothing start
 start :: CommandStart
 start = do
 	f <- fromRepo gitAnnexTmpCfgFile
-	createAnnexDirectory $ parentDir f
+	createAnnexDirectory $ takeDirectory f
 	cfg <- getCfg
 	descs <- uuidDescriptions
 	liftIO $ writeFileAnyEncoding f $ genCfg cfg descs
diff --git a/Config/Files.hs b/Config/Files.hs
index 8d5c1fd12..edea83eeb 100644
--- a/Config/Files.hs
+++ b/Config/Files.hs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ modifyAutoStartFile func = do
 	let dirs' = nubBy equalFilePath $ func dirs
 	when (dirs' /= dirs) $ do
 		f <- autoStartFile
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir f)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory f)
 		viaTmp writeFile f $ unlines dirs'
 
 {- Adds a directory to the autostart file. If the directory is already
diff --git a/Git/Construct.hs b/Git/Construct.hs
index 108ee7eb7..0b926342f 100644
--- a/Git/Construct.hs
+++ b/Git/Construct.hs
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ fromCwd = getCurrentDirectory >>= seekUp
 		r <- checkForRepo dir
 		case r of
 			Nothing -> case parentDir dir of
-				"" -> return Nothing
-				d -> seekUp d
+				Nothing -> return Nothing
+				Just d -> seekUp d
 			Just loc -> Just <$> newFrom loc
 
 {- Local Repo constructor, accepts a relative or absolute path. -}
diff --git a/Git/Repair.hs b/Git/Repair.hs
index bee9f2b50..2930b9a0c 100644
--- a/Git/Repair.hs
+++ b/Git/Repair.hs
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ explodePackedRefsFile r = do
   where
 	makeref (sha, ref) = do
 		let dest = localGitDir r </> fromRef ref
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 		unlessM (doesFileExist dest) $
 			writeFile dest (fromRef sha)
 
diff --git a/Locations.hs b/Locations.hs
index 614cbdde3..02758eb05 100644
--- a/Locations.hs
+++ b/Locations.hs
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ gitAnnexLink file key r = do
 	currdir <- getCurrentDirectory
 	let absfile = fromMaybe whoops $ absNormPathUnix currdir file
 	loc <- gitAnnexLocation' key r False
-	relPathDirToFile (parentDir absfile) loc
+	relPathDirToFile (takeDirectory absfile) loc
   where
 	whoops = error $ "unable to normalize " ++ file
 
diff --git a/Logs/FsckResults.hs b/Logs/FsckResults.hs
index 23367a3d3..00a36fa5c 100644
--- a/Logs/FsckResults.hs
+++ b/Logs/FsckResults.hs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ writeFsckResults u fsckresults = do
 				| otherwise -> store s t logfile
   where
 	store s t logfile = do 
-		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir logfile)
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory logfile)
 		liftIO $ viaTmp writeFile logfile $ serialize s t
 	serialize s t =
 		let ls = map fromRef (S.toList s)
diff --git a/Remote/BitTorrent.hs b/Remote/BitTorrent.hs
index d0a35fa30..b04abe56b 100644
--- a/Remote/BitTorrent.hs
+++ b/Remote/BitTorrent.hs
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ downloadTorrentFile u = do
 		, do
 			showAction "downloading torrent file"
 			showOutput
-			createAnnexDirectory (parentDir torrent)
+			createAnnexDirectory (takeDirectory torrent)
 			if isTorrentMagnetUrl u
 				then do
 					tmpdir <- tmpTorrentDir u
diff --git a/Remote/Directory.hs b/Remote/Directory.hs
index 66a3de49f..1d9a15ea5 100644
--- a/Remote/Directory.hs
+++ b/Remote/Directory.hs
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ finalizeStoreGeneric :: FilePath -> FilePath -> IO ()
 finalizeStoreGeneric tmp dest = do
 	void $ tryIO $ allowWrite dest -- may already exist
 	void $ tryIO $ removeDirectoryRecursive dest -- or not exist
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 	renameDirectory tmp dest
 	-- may fail on some filesystems
 	void $ tryIO $ do
diff --git a/Remote/GCrypt.hs b/Remote/GCrypt.hs
index 2f2ddc9f3..67021732f 100644
--- a/Remote/GCrypt.hs
+++ b/Remote/GCrypt.hs
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ store r rsyncopts
 			void $ tryIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True tmpdir
 			let tmpf = tmpdir </> keyFile k
 			meteredWriteFile p tmpf b
-			let destdir = parentDir $ gCryptLocation r k
+			let destdir = takeDirectory $ gCryptLocation r k
 			Remote.Directory.finalizeStoreGeneric tmpdir destdir
 			return True
 	| Git.repoIsSsh (repo r) = if isShell r
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ retrieve r rsyncopts
 remove :: Remote -> Remote.Rsync.RsyncOpts -> Remover
 remove r rsyncopts k
 	| not $ Git.repoIsUrl (repo r) = guardUsable (repo r) (return False) $
-		liftIO $ Remote.Directory.removeDirGeneric (Git.repoLocation (repo r)) (parentDir (gCryptLocation r k))
+		liftIO $ Remote.Directory.removeDirGeneric (Git.repoLocation (repo r)) (takeDirectory (gCryptLocation r k))
 	| Git.repoIsSsh (repo r) = shellOrRsync r removeshell removersync
 	| otherwise = unsupportedUrl
   where
diff --git a/Remote/Git.hs b/Remote/Git.hs
index 17b44fa6e..8e521cfe9 100644
--- a/Remote/Git.hs
+++ b/Remote/Git.hs
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ rsyncOrCopyFile rsyncparams src dest p =
 	ifM (sameDeviceIds src dest) (docopy, dorsync)
   where
 	sameDeviceIds a b = (==) <$> getDeviceId a <*> getDeviceId b
-	getDeviceId f = deviceID <$> liftIO (getFileStatus $ parentDir f)
+	getDeviceId f = deviceID <$> liftIO (getFileStatus $ takeDirectory f)
 	docopy = liftIO $ bracket
 		(forkIO $ watchfilesize zeroBytesProcessed)
 		(void . tryIO . killThread)
diff --git a/Remote/Rsync.hs b/Remote/Rsync.hs
index ad5b77d38..72cabe2fd 100644
--- a/Remote/Rsync.hs
+++ b/Remote/Rsync.hs
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ rsyncSetup mu _ c = do
 store :: RsyncOpts -> Key -> FilePath -> MeterUpdate -> Annex Bool
 store o k src meterupdate = withRsyncScratchDir $ \tmp -> do
 	let dest = tmp </> Prelude.head (keyPaths k)
-	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir dest
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True $ takeDirectory dest
 	ok <- liftIO $ if canrename
 		then do
 			rename src dest
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ remove o k = do
 	 - traverses directories. -}
 	includes = concatMap use annexHashes
 	use h = let dir = h k in
-		[ parentDir dir
+		[ takeDirectory dir
 		, dir
 		-- match content directory and anything in it
 		, dir </> keyFile k </> "***"
diff --git a/Remote/Tahoe.hs b/Remote/Tahoe.hs
index 27bb12884..06c7590e7 100644
--- a/Remote/Tahoe.hs
+++ b/Remote/Tahoe.hs
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ tahoeConfigure configdir furl mscs = do
 
 createClient :: TahoeConfigDir -> IntroducerFurl -> IO Bool
 createClient configdir furl = do
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir configdir)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory configdir)
 	boolTahoe configdir "create-client"
 		[ Param "--nickname", Param "git-annex"
 		, Param "--introducer", Param furl
diff --git a/Test.hs b/Test.hs
index dd12997ff..2905c5ce2 100644
--- a/Test.hs
+++ b/Test.hs
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ test_uncommitted_conflict_resolution = do
 		withtmpclonerepo False $ \r2 -> do
 			indir r1 $ do
 				disconnectOrigin
-				createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir remoteconflictor)
+				createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory remoteconflictor)
 				writeFile remoteconflictor annexedcontent
 				git_annex "add" [conflictor] @? "add remoteconflicter failed"
 				git_annex "sync" [] @? "sync failed in r1"
diff --git a/Upgrade/V1.hs b/Upgrade/V1.hs
index 347b102ac..7113509fe 100644
--- a/Upgrade/V1.hs
+++ b/Upgrade/V1.hs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ moveContent = do
   where
 	move f = do
 		let k = fileKey1 (takeFileName f)
-		let d = parentDir f
+		let d = takeDirectory f
 		liftIO $ allowWrite d
 		liftIO $ allowWrite f
 		moveAnnex k f
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ moveLocationLogs = do
 		dest <- fromRepo $ logFile2 k
 		dir <- fromRepo Upgrade.V2.gitStateDir
 		let f = dir </> l
-		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
+		liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory dest)
 		-- could just git mv, but this way deals with
 		-- log files that are not checked into git,
 		-- as well as merging with already upgraded
diff --git a/Utility/Daemon.hs b/Utility/Daemon.hs
index d1f539e98..961b098dc 100644
--- a/Utility/Daemon.hs
+++ b/Utility/Daemon.hs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ foreground pidfile a = do
  - Fails if the pid file is already locked by another process. -}
 lockPidFile :: FilePath -> IO ()
 lockPidFile pidfile = do
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir pidfile)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory pidfile)
 #ifndef mingw32_HOST_OS
 	fd <- openFd pidfile ReadWrite (Just stdFileMode) defaultFileFlags
 	locked <- catchMaybeIO $ setLock fd (WriteLock, AbsoluteSeek, 0, 0)
@@ -176,6 +176,6 @@ winLockFile pid pidfile = do
 	prefix = pidfile ++ "."
 	suffix = ".lck"
 	cleanstale = mapM_ (void . tryIO . removeFile) =<<
-		(filter iswinlockfile <$> dirContents (parentDir pidfile))
+		(filter iswinlockfile <$> dirContents (takeDirectory pidfile))
 	iswinlockfile f = suffix `isSuffixOf` f && prefix `isPrefixOf` f
 #endif
diff --git a/Utility/FreeDesktop.hs b/Utility/FreeDesktop.hs
index c1f042ce8..208a392e9 100644
--- a/Utility/FreeDesktop.hs
+++ b/Utility/FreeDesktop.hs
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ module Utility.FreeDesktop (
 ) where
 
 import Utility.Exception
-import Utility.Path
 import Utility.UserInfo
 import Utility.Process
 import Utility.PartialPrelude
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ buildDesktopMenuFile d = unlines ("[Desktop Entry]" : map keyvalue d) ++ "\n"
 
 writeDesktopMenuFile :: DesktopEntry -> String -> IO ()
 writeDesktopMenuFile d file = do
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir file)
+	createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)
 	writeFile file $ buildDesktopMenuFile d
 
 {- Path to use for a desktop menu file, in either the systemDataDir or
diff --git a/Utility/LinuxMkLibs.hs b/Utility/LinuxMkLibs.hs
index 1dc4e1ea3..6074ba261 100644
--- a/Utility/LinuxMkLibs.hs
+++ b/Utility/LinuxMkLibs.hs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module Utility.LinuxMkLibs where
 import Control.Applicative
 import Data.Maybe
 import System.Directory
+import System.FilePath
 import Data.List.Utils
 import System.Posix.Files
 import Data.Char
@@ -28,14 +29,14 @@ installLib installfile top lib = ifM (doesFileExist lib)
 	( do
 		installfile top lib
 		checksymlink lib
-		return $ Just $ parentDir lib
+		return $ Just $ takeDirectory lib
 	, return Nothing
 	)
   where
 	checksymlink f = whenM (isSymbolicLink <$> getSymbolicLinkStatus (inTop top f)) $ do
 		l <- readSymbolicLink (inTop top f)
-		let absl = absPathFrom (parentDir f) l
-		let target = relPathDirToFile (parentDir f) absl
+		let absl = absPathFrom (takeDirectory f) l
+		let target = relPathDirToFile (takeDirectory f) absl
 		installfile top absl
 		nukeFile (top ++ f)
 		createSymbolicLink target (inTop top f)
diff --git a/Utility/Path.hs b/Utility/Path.hs
index 7427bfe27..cc6c35485 100644
--- a/Utility/Path.hs
+++ b/Utility/Path.hs
@@ -77,14 +77,12 @@ absNormPathUnix dir path = todos <$> MissingH.absNormPath (fromdos dir) (fromdos
 	todos = replace "/" "\\"
 #endif
 
-{- Returns the parent directory of a path.
- -
- - To allow this to be easily used in loops, which terminate upon reaching the
- - top, the parent of / is "" -}
-parentDir :: FilePath -> FilePath
+{- Just the parent directory of a path, or Nothing if the path has no
+ - parent (ie for "/") -}
+parentDir :: FilePath -> Maybe FilePath
 parentDir dir
-	| null dirs = ""
-	| otherwise = joinDrive drive (join s $ init dirs)
+	| null dirs = Nothing
+	| otherwise = Just $ joinDrive drive (join s $ init dirs)
   where
 	-- on Unix, the drive will be "/" when the dir is absolute, otherwise ""
 	(drive, path) = splitDrive dir
@@ -94,8 +92,8 @@ parentDir dir
 prop_parentDir_basics :: FilePath -> Bool
 prop_parentDir_basics dir
 	| null dir = True
-	| dir == "/" = parentDir dir == ""
-	| otherwise = p /= dir
+	| dir == "/" = parentDir dir == Nothing
+	| otherwise = p /= Just dir
   where
 	p = parentDir dir
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index bc27fca85..df55fb468 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ git-annex (5.20141232) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
     - On Windows, this avoids some of the problems with the absurdly small
       MAX_PATH of 260 bytes. In particular, git-annex repositories should
       work in deeper/longer directory structures than before.
+  * Generate shorter keys for WORM and URL, avoiding keys that are longer
+    than used for SHA256, so as to not break on systems like Windows that
+    have very small maximum path length limits.
 
  -- Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>  Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:35:13 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/bugs/CHECKPRESENT_could_check_file_size_as_well/comment_1_7bbba896da745a8a6b69ec62bf71fc89._comment b/doc/bugs/CHECKPRESENT_could_check_file_size_as_well/comment_1_7bbba896da745a8a6b69ec62bf71fc89._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e917ec998
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/CHECKPRESENT_could_check_file_size_as_well/comment_1_7bbba896da745a8a6b69ec62bf71fc89._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joeyh.name/"
+ subject="comment 1"
+ date="2015-01-06T17:41:45Z"
+ content="""
+The encrypted content size is not constant, and not known to git-annex.
+
+The only git-annex remote that checks the size in its checkpresent implementation is the web special remote, precisely because it's never encrypted. Also because files on the web change content from time to time and so that needs to be detected.
+
+What would make sense is to extend the reply to `CHECKPRESENT-SUCCESS Key [size]` or perhaps `CHECKPRESENT-SIZE Key size`. git-annex can then compare the value with the key's known size, if any. If the key is encrypted, it would need to skip this check.
+
+Note that chunk keys currently have their keySize inherited from the parent key, and the keyChunkSize of each chunk key is set to the key size. The last chunk of a key will typically be shorter than its keyChunkSize. That would need to be cleaned up.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_2_dfc398002e2ffbe0b63ce422a1e16d67._comment b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_2_dfc398002e2ffbe0b63ce422a1e16d67._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..89af53b41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_2_dfc398002e2ffbe0b63ce422a1e16d67._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joeyh.name/"
+ subject="comment 2"
+ date="2015-01-06T19:18:26Z"
+ content="""
+On Linux and OSX, there is a maximum filename size, typically 255 bytes. git-annex always ensures that keys it generates are a maximum of 255 bytes long, no matter the platform. But, in dir/subdir/file, each of the 3 segments of the path is allowed to be that long. The limit on the total path size on Linux is a more reasonable 4096 bytes; OSX has only 1024 bytes. 
+
+I don't know what to do about Windows having such an absurdly small `MAX_PATH` compared to more modern systems.
+
+The length of just a SHA512 checksum is 128 bytes; that means SHA512 backend cannot be used on windows, at all, since the paths git-annex generates will be at least twice that long, and will easily overflow `PATH_MAX`. I've confirmed this; just adding a file with --backend=SHA512 fails with a \"No such file or directory\" error when it tries to use the path.
+
+A SHA256 is a more manageable 64 bytes long. So a typical path to such an object will end with eg \".git\annex\objects\566\a33\SHA256E--d728a4c4727febe1c28509482ae1b7b2215798218e544eed7cb7b4dc988f838b\SHA256E--d728a4c4727febe1c28509482ae1b7b2215798218e544eed7cb7b4dc988f838b\" -- 174 bytes long (or a bit longer when there are also extension and size in the key) and leaving only 86 bytes or so for `c:\path\to\repo`.
+
+Perhaps git-annex should reduce its maximum key size from 255 to 64 bytes, the same as SHA256. Then url keys would work on Windows, except for in deep paths, where git-annex cannot work at all. This would be an easy change.
+
+git-annex could also avoid using absolute paths, which it currently uses extensively for simplicity (and possiibly robustness against renames of repositories and changes of working directory?), and use relative paths instead. This would probably solve the two examples given in the bug report, and it would make git-annex work better when in a deep path in Windows. It would not make SHA512 work though; with keys that long, the relative path is still too long. (And, it's still possible to get a relative path that has so many '../../' and subdirectories etc that it overflows `PATH_MAX`. It would probably take a really crazy repository directory structure though.)
+
+The MSDN article has one very interesting bit:
+
+> The Windows API has many functions that also have Unicode versions to permit an extended-length path for a maximum total path length of 32,767 characters. This type of path is composed of components separated by backslashes, each up to the value returned in the lpMaximumComponentLength parameter of the GetVolumeInformation function (this value is commonly 255 characters). To specify an extended-length path, use the \"\\?\\" prefix. For example, \"\\?\D:\very long path\".
+
+(It seems that, when using that prefix, `/` is not converted to `\` .. I think git-annex is quite good about getting the slashes the right way round these days.)
+
+So it might be possible for git-annex to use that prefix and avoid this issue entirely. Haskell's FilePath library does understand that prefix (treats it as part of the drive). Since git-annex always uses the path to the top of the Repo when constructing the problimatic FilePaths, I might be able to just change the Repo constructor to add that prefix, and everything follow from that. I tried doing that, unfortunately this makes *git* fail, with \"fatal: relative path syntax cannot be used outside working tree\" when operating on such a repo. Cause git doesn't understand that prefix.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_3_1d23e9760782a8d6d2ea2dd5a4c6253a._comment b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_3_1d23e9760782a8d6d2ea2dd5a4c6253a._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..153c48db2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_3_1d23e9760782a8d6d2ea2dd5a4c6253a._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joeyh.name/"
+ subject="comment 3"
+ date="2015-01-06T20:51:20Z"
+ content="""
+I've started a `relativepaths` branch that uses all relative paths to the git repo. After working on it for several hours, there are still 16 test suite failures (update: 10) (update: 1). The potential for uncaught breakage is much higher than I am happy with. (Amoung other problems, git-annex does call setCurrentDirectory in several places, and this utterly breaks the relative paths).
+
+Using that branch on windows, I am still unable to add files with --backend=SHA512; even relative paths don't make it short enough for such keys.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_4_108f3e4449fc9591bcdeb490b486357f._comment b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_4_108f3e4449fc9591bcdeb490b486357f._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3aa56f004
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows/comment_4_108f3e4449fc9591bcdeb490b486357f._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joeyh.name/"
+ subject="comment 4"
+ date="2015-01-06T21:59:15Z"
+ content="""
+Even with relative paths, Edward's example would use a path of 253 characters, and so a slightly longer url would still break it, even with relative paths.
+
+So, I think reducing url key length needs to be done anyway, and I've done that. Which hardly closes this bug.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_7_c9104ad6d9cfec93f561b9cd514b6f48._comment b/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_7_c9104ad6d9cfec93f561b9cd514b6f48._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d4f7e230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_7_c9104ad6d9cfec93f561b9cd514b6f48._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joeyh.name/"
+ subject="comment 7"
+ date="2015-01-06T17:43:45Z"
+ content="""
+I verified with `eu-readelf --file-header` that the git-annex binary is DYN; ie linked PIE.
+
+It might be that I also need to tell the C compiler to build it with PIE options. I have now updated the build to include that. Please test the new build.
+
+It occurs to me that the problem might be not git-annex, but one of the other binaries, like busybox. Does the android app install to the point that there is a working terminal app with a shell?
+
+It also seems possible that the entire haskell library stack might need to be built with PIE options. If so, that will be a massive pain; I'd need an entire separate autobuilder instance.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_8_e628cc5365b1268450f0245b362266cc._comment b/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_8_e628cc5365b1268450f0245b362266cc._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad25a2694
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bugs/__91__Android__93___5.0_needs_PIE_executables___40__git_annex_does_not_work_on_android_5.0__41__/comment_8_e628cc5365b1268450f0245b362266cc._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="etset"
+ subject="Still not working"
+ date="2015-01-06T22:48:18Z"
+ content="""
+The terminal opens, showing the error message at start and at every new opened tab, without a working shell ever appearing.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/devblog/day_244__relative_paths.mdwn b/doc/devblog/day_244__relative_paths.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f631dbc8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/devblog/day_244__relative_paths.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+git-annex internally uses all absolute paths all the time.
+For a couple of reasons, I'd like it to use relative paths.
+The best reason is, it would let a repository be moved while git-annex was
+running, without breaking. A lesser reason is that Windows has some
+crazy small limit on the length of a path (260 bytes?!), and using relative
+paths would avoid hitting it so often.
+
+I tried to do this today, in a `relativepaths` branch. I eventually got the
+test suite to pass, but I am very unsure about this change. A lot of random
+assumptions broke, and the test suite won't catch them all. In a few
+places, git-annex commands do change the current directory, and that
+will break with relative paths.
+
+A frustrating day.
diff --git a/doc/forum/How_To_Permanently_Delete_a_File__63__/comment_7_1a6fab467a1c4db2dee39ef464f6cc7b._comment b/doc/forum/How_To_Permanently_Delete_a_File__63__/comment_7_1a6fab467a1c4db2dee39ef464f6cc7b._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b1f6812b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/forum/How_To_Permanently_Delete_a_File__63__/comment_7_1a6fab467a1c4db2dee39ef464f6cc7b._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmwjQzWgiD7_I3zw-_91rMRf_6qoThupis"
+ nickname="Mike"
+ subject="comment 7"
+ date="2015-01-06T18:01:40Z"
+ content="""
+Unfortunately, that is not useful for this at all. We are talking about millions of files here, and the issue is leaving behind old hard links, so that program just won't work at all.
+
+Furthermore, this questions has all ready been answered in previous comments.
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/tips/How_to_retroactively_annex_a_file_already_in_a_git_repo/comment_5_3062c0794ecd7c6237efae66f4d9b62f._comment b/doc/tips/How_to_retroactively_annex_a_file_already_in_a_git_repo/comment_5_3062c0794ecd7c6237efae66f4d9b62f._comment
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8ef98d99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/tips/How_to_retroactively_annex_a_file_already_in_a_git_repo/comment_5_3062c0794ecd7c6237efae66f4d9b62f._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawlcfH7xkyz1kyG_neK4GcFFfFWuIY7l_6A"
+ nickname="Primiano"
+ subject="large scale rewrite tips"
+ date="2015-01-06T22:55:20Z"
+ content="""
+I recently had the need of re-kind-of-annexing an unusually large repo (one of the largest?).
+With some tricks and the right code I managed to get it down to 170000 commits in 19 minutes and extracing ~8GB of blobs. 
+Attaching the link here as I feel it might be helpful for very large projects (where git-filter-branch can become prohibitively slow) 
+
+[https://www.primianotucci.com/blog/large-scale-git-history-rewrites](https://www.primianotucci.com/blog/large-scale-git-history-rewrites)
+
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/tips/using_the_web_as_a_special_remote/comment_10_14fb0b1ee50136e0f78ee2b2a6871467._comment b/doc/tips/using_the_web_as_a_special_remote/comment_10_14fb0b1ee50136e0f78ee2b2a6871467._comment
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d1790ce9..000000000
--- a/doc/tips/using_the_web_as_a_special_remote/comment_10_14fb0b1ee50136e0f78ee2b2a6871467._comment
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-[[!comment format=mdwn
- username="edward"
- subject="URL backend file paths hit the 260 character file path limit on Windows"
- date="2014-12-08T19:13:39Z"
- content="""
-It isn't possible to checkout a git annex repository on Windows that includes quvi videos because the file path is often greater than 260 characters.
-
-See [[bugs/\"git-annex: direct: 1 failed\" on Windows]].
-"""]]
diff --git a/doc/todo/windows_support.mdwn b/doc/todo/windows_support.mdwn
index 3081e425e..42f804195 100644
--- a/doc/todo/windows_support.mdwn
+++ b/doc/todo/windows_support.mdwn
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@ usable!
 
 ## status
 
+* There can be problems when the git-annex repository is in a deep
+  or long path. Ie, `C:\loooooooooooooooooongdir\`.
+  [Details here](http://git-annex.branchable.com/bugs/__34__git-annex:_direct:_1_failed__34___on_Windows)
+  Workaround: Put your git-annex repo in `C:\annex` or some similar short
+  path if possible.
+
 * XMPP library not yet built. (See below.)
 
 * Local pairing seems to fail, after acking on Linux box, it stalls.