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How to Debug Duplicate Directory Entries on macFUSE’s FSKit Backend

A practical trace-first workflow for diagnosing duplicate or missing directory entries on macFUSE’s FSKit backend, including what changed in versions 5.3.1 and 5.4.0.
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If a macFUSE directory shows every file twice—or a listing becomes empty—compare the filesystem server’s raw FUSE_READDIR response with the backing directory. That identifies whether duplication starts in the filesystem implementation or appears in macFUSE’s FSKit translation path. An official report reproduced two backing files as four entries on macFUSE 5.2.0 with FSKit; macFUSE 5.3.1 later changed FSKit item identity and lookup handling, and 5.4.0 lists further directory-enumeration improvements.

What the reported duplication looked like

In macFUSE issue #1166, the reported setup was macOS 26.4.1, macFUSE 5.2.0, and the FSKit backend. The backing directory contained alpha.txt and beta.txt, with inode numbers 10581575 and 10581576. The captured READDIR response contained each inode twice, returning four directory entries for two files. See the issue report.

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The report also showed GETATTR requests for returned inodes without a preceding FUSE_LOOKUP for the corresponding names. The issue author described that sequencing problem separately from the duplicate entries: the FSKit shim treated each dirent’s inode number as an authoritative handle, unlike the expected sequencing used by some userspace FUSE filesystems. Keeping those observations distinct matters; a lookup-sequencing fault and duplicate enumeration are related evidence in the same report, not necessarily the same defect.

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First determine which layer duplicates the entries

macFUSE supports the default kernel VFS backend and an opt-in FSKit backend selected with -o backend=fskit. FSKit support was introduced experimentally in macFUSE 5.0 for macOS 15.4 and newer. Record the backend as part of the reproduction: a listing problem confined to FSKit points toward a different layer than one also present in the filesystem server’s raw reply. macFUSE’s FSKit backend documentation describes the backend and its constraints.

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  1. Record the environment. Note the macOS version, macFUSE version, filesystem implementation and version, and whether the mount explicitly uses backend=fskit. The kernel VFS backend is the project’s default; FSKit is opt-in.
  2. Inspect the backing directory. Establish the actual names and entries in the directory as seen by the filesystem server.
  3. Capture the raw FUSE_READDIR reply. Compare names and entries in that response with the backing directory. If the raw reply already repeats entries, investigate the filesystem server’s enumeration and offset handling. If the raw reply is correct but the mounted listing repeats entries, investigate the macFUSE FSKit translation path.
  4. Retest after updating macFUSE. Compare the result on a current release, preserving the same filesystem and backend settings where possible. If it still reproduces, capture a fresh trace rather than assuming the earlier issue explains it.

What changed in macFUSE 5.3.1 and 5.4.0

macFUSE 5.3.1

Released June 13, 2026, macFUSE 5.3.1 says FSKit now uses node identifier and generation as the authoritative handle and performs FUSE_LOOKUP for entries returned by FUSE_READDIR. Its release notes say these changes resolve issues #1166 and #1167. Read the 5.3.1 release notes.

macFUSE 5.4.0

Released September 7, 2026, macFUSE 5.4.0 describes additional FSKit directory-enumeration work, including cookie and verifier validation and cleanup of remaining handles during close, reclaim, and item deactivation. It is listed for macOS 12 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel. The notes do not explicitly say that this release independently fixes every duplicate-listing cause, so confirm behavior with a trace on the configuration you use. Read the 5.4.0 release notes.

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Workarounds when updating is not enough

If an older affected path must remain in use, or a current version still reproduces the problem, the issue report describes two userspace-side approaches. Both require support in the filesystem binding or implementation; they are not a mount-option switch.

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  • Perform per-entry name lookup during READDIR. Resolve each returned name so the expected lookup and identity handling occurs for that entry.
  • Use READDIRPLUS semantics. Return the additional entry information needed to register entries before later attribute requests.

The issue author notes that these approaches duplicate work performed by the kernel FUSE path. Treat them as implementation workarounds, not proof that the application’s own enumeration is wrong. The issue report discusses both approaches.

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When a backend comparison is useful

If the filesystem and macOS setup support both backends, compare the same workload on FSKit and kernel VFS. A problem limited to FSKit can help narrow the fault to the backend path; a problem present in the raw reply or on both backends points elsewhere. This is a diagnostic comparison, not a guarantee that every filesystem can switch safely.

FSKit is a user-space API, and macFUSE documents differences from the kernel-extension backend: mount points must be under /Volumes; files are opened read/write; the FUSE notification API and fuse_context_t are unavailable; many mount options handled by the kernel are not yet implemented; and I/O performance is lower than with the kernel-extension backend. These constraints may affect whether a comparison is practical, but they do not by themselves establish the cause of duplicate entries. See the documented FSKit limitations.

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