There are currently 24 contiguous bytes of unused space in the SQLite header. If need be, and if SQLite catches on for use as a portable image format, I will be willing to allocate some or all of those 24 bytes to an identifier string for file(1).
This is surely one of the greatest responses I've ever seen on the internet. What was the intention with the unused space originally? Did you foresee this moment coming?
When designing a file format, it is always a good idea to plan for enhancements. There were originally 36 bytes of unused space in the 100-byte header of the SQLite 3.0.0 file format, back in 2004 - bytes set aside specifically to deal with unforeseen needs. Over the years, 12 of those bytes have been allocated to various improvements. 24 bytes remain. (I'd prefer not to use them up all at once or on a whim, obviously.)
First, thanks so much for making what is one of the most awesome database tools around.
If you would be willing, what's your opinion on using SQLite as an image format like this? The "When to Use" page specifically sites application file formats as a good use, but would your header byte allocation be done begrudgingly or contentedly?
