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authorEelco Dolstra <e.dolstra@tudelft.nl>2008-06-09T13·52+0000
committerEelco Dolstra <e.dolstra@tudelft.nl>2008-06-09T13·52+0000
commitb0e92f6d474ce91d7f071f9ed62bbb2015009c58 (patch)
treec3d28be6b89dfa618df290d5c78c55897b119b6c
parent4ed01ed791b3bb7a4010049c6128aa2d49a81a29 (diff)
* Merged the no-bdb branch (-r10900:HEAD
  https://svn.nixos.org/repos/nix/nix/branches/no-bdb).

-rw-r--r--configure.ac21
-rw-r--r--externals/Makefile.am8
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/Makefile.am11
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/build.cc76
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/db.cc6
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/gc.cc2
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/local-store.cc978
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/local-store.hh101
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/misc.cc1
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/optimise-store.cc129
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/store-api.cc17
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/store-api.hh11
-rw-r--r--src/libstore/upgrade-schema.cc108
-rw-r--r--src/libutil/util.cc5
-rw-r--r--src/libutil/util.hh4
-rw-r--r--src/nix-env/nix-env.cc1
-rw-r--r--src/nix-store/dotgraph.cc1
-rw-r--r--src/nix-store/nix-store.cc24
-rw-r--r--src/nix-worker/nix-worker.cc2
-rw-r--r--tests/Makefile.am2
-rw-r--r--tests/dependencies.sh2
-rw-r--r--tests/export.sh31
-rw-r--r--tests/init.sh3
-rw-r--r--tests/referrers.sh48
24 files changed, 888 insertions, 704 deletions
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fd96c65f2c52..ffeff3a5ebdf 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ if test "$STABLE" != "1"; then
     fi
 fi
 
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(NIX_VERSION, ["$VERSION"], [version])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(NIX_VERSION, ["$VERSION"], [Nix version.])
 
 AC_PREFIX_DEFAULT(/nix)
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ case $sys_name in
 esac
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(system, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-system=SYSTEM],
-  [platform identifier (e.g., `i686-linux')]),
+  [Platform identifier (e.g., `i686-linux').]),
   system=$withval, system="${machine_name}-${sys_name}")
 AC_MSG_RESULT($system)
 AC_SUBST(system)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <iostream>
 using namespace std;
 static char buf[1024];]],
     [[cerr.rdbuf()->pubsetbuf(buf, sizeof(buf));]])],
-    [AC_MSG_RESULT(yes) AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PUBSETBUF, 1, [whether pubsetbuf is available])],
+    [AC_MSG_RESULT(yes) AC_DEFINE(HAVE_PUBSETBUF, 1, [Whether pubsetbuf is available.])],
     AC_MSG_RESULT(no))
 AC_LANG_POP(C++)
 
@@ -177,8 +177,13 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(store-dir, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-store-dir=PATH],
   storedir=$withval, storedir='${prefix}/store')
 AC_SUBST(storedir)
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(old-db-compat, AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-old-db-compat],
+  [disable support for converting from old Berkeley DB-based Nix stores]),
+  old_db_compat=$enableval, old_db_compat=yes)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(OLD_DB_COMPAT, test "$old_db_compat" = "yes")
+
 AC_ARG_WITH(bdb, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-bdb=PATH],
-  [prefix of Berkeley DB]),
+  [prefix of Berkeley DB (for Nix <= 0.11 compatibility)]),
   bdb=$withval, bdb=)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_BDB, test -n "$bdb")
 if test -z "$bdb"; then
@@ -188,6 +193,12 @@ else
   bdb_lib="-L$bdb/lib -ldb_cxx"
   bdb_include="-I$bdb/include"
 fi
+if test "$old_db_compat" = "no"; then
+  bdb_lib=
+  bdb_include=
+else
+  AC_DEFINE(OLD_DB_COMPAT, 1, [Whether to support converting from old Berkeley DB-based Nix stores.])
+fi
 AC_SUBST(bdb_lib)
 AC_SUBST(bdb_include)
 
@@ -216,7 +227,7 @@ if test -n "$openssl"; then
   LDFLAGS="-L$openssl/lib -lcrypto $LDFLAGS"
   CFLAGS="-I$openssl/include $CFLAGS"
   CXXFLAGS="-I$openssl/include $CXXFLAGS"
-  AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OPENSSL, 1, [whether to use OpenSSL])
+  AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OPENSSL, 1, [Whether to use OpenSSL.])
 fi
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(bzip2, AC_HELP_STRING([--with-bzip2=PATH],
diff --git a/externals/Makefile.am b/externals/Makefile.am
index 854a65268095..981506ebb095 100644
--- a/externals/Makefile.am
+++ b/externals/Makefile.am
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 DB = db-4.5.20
 
+if OLD_DB_COMPAT
+
 $(DB).tar.gz:
 	@echo "Nix requires Berkeley DB to build."
 	@echo "Please download version 4.5.20 from"
@@ -32,6 +34,12 @@ build-db: have-db
 	touch build-db
 endif
 
+else
+
+build-db:
+
+endif
+
 
 # CWI ATerm
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/Makefile.am b/src/libstore/Makefile.am
index 21b1545f6c68..90377878087f 100644
--- a/src/libstore/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/libstore/Makefile.am
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 pkglib_LTLIBRARIES = libstore.la
 
 libstore_la_SOURCES = \
- store-api.cc local-store.cc remote-store.cc derivations.cc build.cc misc.cc \
- globals.cc db.cc references.cc pathlocks.cc gc.cc 
+  store-api.cc local-store.cc remote-store.cc derivations.cc build.cc misc.cc \
+  globals.cc db.cc references.cc pathlocks.cc gc.cc upgrade-schema.cc \
+  optimise-store.cc
 
 pkginclude_HEADERS = \
- store-api.hh local-store.hh remote-store.hh derivations.hh misc.hh \
- globals.hh db.hh references.hh pathlocks.hh \
- worker-protocol.hh
+  store-api.hh local-store.hh remote-store.hh derivations.hh misc.hh \
+  globals.hh db.hh references.hh pathlocks.hh \
+  worker-protocol.hh
 
 libstore_la_LIBADD = ../libutil/libutil.la ../boost/format/libformat.la
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index e6ab6310cd49..23cda12c0bfb 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #include "misc.hh"
 #include "globals.hh"
 #include "local-store.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 
 #include <map>
@@ -207,7 +206,9 @@ private:
     
 public:
 
-    Worker();
+    LocalStore & store;
+
+    Worker(LocalStore & store);
     ~Worker();
 
     /* Make a goal (with caching). */
@@ -897,14 +898,14 @@ void DerivationGoal::haveDerivation()
         return;
     }
 
-    assert(store->isValidPath(drvPath));
+    assert(worker.store.isValidPath(drvPath));
 
     /* Get the derivation. */
     drv = derivationFromPath(drvPath);
 
     for (DerivationOutputs::iterator i = drv.outputs.begin();
          i != drv.outputs.end(); ++i)
-        store->addTempRoot(i->second.path);
+        worker.store.addTempRoot(i->second.path);
 
     /* Check what outputs paths are not already valid. */
     PathSet invalidOutputs = checkPathValidity(false);
@@ -938,7 +939,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::haveDerivation()
          i != invalidOutputs.end(); ++i)
         /* Don't bother creating a substitution goal if there are no
            substitutes. */
-        if (store->hasSubstitutes(*i))
+        if (worker.store.hasSubstitutes(*i))
             addWaitee(worker.makeSubstitutionGoal(*i));
     
     if (waitees.empty()) /* to prevent hang (no wake-up event) */
@@ -993,7 +994,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::outputsSubstituted()
             throw BuildError(format("`exportBuildReferencesGraph' contains a non-store path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
         storePath = toStorePath(storePath);
-        if (!store->isValidPath(storePath))
+        if (!worker.store.isValidPath(storePath))
             throw BuildError(format("`exportBuildReferencesGraph' contains an invalid path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
         
@@ -1250,19 +1251,6 @@ PathSet outputPaths(const DerivationOutputs & outputs)
 }
 
 
-string showPaths(const PathSet & paths)
-{
-    string s;
-    for (PathSet::const_iterator i = paths.begin();
-         i != paths.end(); ++i)
-    {
-        if (s.size() != 0) s += ", ";
-        s += "`" + *i + "'";
-    }
-    return s;
-}
-
-
 DerivationGoal::HookReply DerivationGoal::tryBuildHook()
 {
     if (!useBuildHook) return rpDecline;
@@ -1474,7 +1462,7 @@ DerivationGoal::PrepareBuildReply DerivationGoal::prepareBuild()
          i != drv.outputs.end(); ++i)
     {
         Path path = i->second.path;
-        if (store->isValidPath(path))
+        if (worker.store.isValidPath(path))
             throw BuildError(format("obstructed build: path `%1%' exists") % path);
         if (pathExists(path)) {
             debug(format("removing unregistered path `%1%'") % path);
@@ -1502,7 +1490,7 @@ DerivationGoal::PrepareBuildReply DerivationGoal::prepareBuild()
         /* Add the relevant output closures of the input derivation
            `*i' as input paths.  Only add the closures of output paths
            that are specified as inputs. */
-        assert(store->isValidPath(i->first));
+        assert(worker.store.isValidPath(i->first));
         Derivation inDrv = derivationFromPath(i->first);
         for (StringSet::iterator j = i->second.begin();
              j != i->second.end(); ++j)
@@ -1624,7 +1612,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
             throw BuildError(format("`exportReferencesGraph' contains a non-store path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
         storePath = toStorePath(storePath);
-        if (!store->isValidPath(storePath))
+        if (!worker.store.isValidPath(storePath))
             throw BuildError(format("`exportReferencesGraph' contains an invalid path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
 
@@ -1652,7 +1640,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
             throw BuildError(format("`exportBuildReferencesGraph' contains a non-store path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
         storePath = toStorePath(storePath);
-        if (!store->isValidPath(storePath))
+        if (!worker.store.isValidPath(storePath))
             throw BuildError(format("`exportBuildReferencesGraph' contains an invalid path `%1%'")
                 % storePath);
 
@@ -1994,27 +1982,17 @@ void DerivationGoal::computeClosure()
     }
 
     /* Register each output path as valid, and register the sets of
-       paths referenced by each of them.  This is wrapped in one
-       database transaction to ensure that if we crash, either
-       everything is registered or nothing is.  This is for
-       recoverability: unregistered paths in the store can be deleted
-       arbitrarily, while registered paths can only be deleted by
-       running the garbage collector.
-
-       The reason that we do the transaction here and not on the fly
-       while we are scanning (above) is so that we don't hold database
-       locks for too long. */
-    Transaction txn;
-    createStoreTransaction(txn);
+       paths referenced by each of them.  !!! this should be
+       atomic so that either all paths are registered as valid, or
+       none are. */
     for (DerivationOutputs::iterator i = drv.outputs.begin(); 
          i != drv.outputs.end(); ++i)
     {
-        registerValidPath(txn, i->second.path,
+        worker.store.registerValidPath(i->second.path,
             contentHashes[i->second.path],
             allReferences[i->second.path],
             drvPath);
     }
-    txn.commit();
 
     /* It is now safe to delete the lock files, since all future
        lockers will see that the output paths are valid; they will not
@@ -2113,7 +2091,7 @@ PathSet DerivationGoal::checkPathValidity(bool returnValid)
     PathSet result;
     for (DerivationOutputs::iterator i = drv.outputs.begin();
          i != drv.outputs.end(); ++i)
-        if (store->isValidPath(i->second.path)) {
+        if (worker.store.isValidPath(i->second.path)) {
             if (returnValid) result.insert(i->second.path);
         } else {
             if (!returnValid) result.insert(i->second.path);
@@ -2219,10 +2197,10 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::init()
 {
     trace("init");
 
-    store->addTempRoot(storePath);
+    worker.store.addTempRoot(storePath);
     
     /* If the path already exists we're done. */
-    if (store->isValidPath(storePath)) {
+    if (worker.store.isValidPath(storePath)) {
         amDone(ecSuccess);
         return;
     }
@@ -2293,7 +2271,7 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::referencesValid()
     for (PathSet::iterator i = references.begin();
          i != references.end(); ++i)
         if (*i != storePath) /* ignore self-references */
-            assert(store->isValidPath(*i));
+            assert(worker.store.isValidPath(*i));
 
     state = &SubstitutionGoal::tryToRun;
     worker.waitForBuildSlot(shared_from_this());
@@ -2327,7 +2305,7 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::tryToRun()
         (format("waiting for lock on `%1%'") % storePath).str());
 
     /* Check again whether the path is invalid. */
-    if (store->isValidPath(storePath)) {
+    if (worker.store.isValidPath(storePath)) {
         debug(format("store path `%1%' has become valid") % storePath);
         outputLock->setDeletion(true);
         amDone(ecSuccess);
@@ -2434,11 +2412,8 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::finished()
 
     Hash contentHash = hashPath(htSHA256, storePath);
 
-    Transaction txn;
-    createStoreTransaction(txn);
-    registerValidPath(txn, storePath, contentHash,
+    worker.store.registerValidPath(storePath, contentHash,
         references, deriver);
-    txn.commit();
 
     outputLock->setDeletion(true);
     
@@ -2472,7 +2447,8 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::handleEOF(int fd)
 static bool working = false;
 
 
-Worker::Worker()
+Worker::Worker(LocalStore & store)
+    : store(store)
 {
     /* Debugging: prevent recursive workers. */ 
     if (working) abort();
@@ -2870,7 +2846,7 @@ void LocalStore::buildDerivations(const PathSet & drvPaths)
     startNest(nest, lvlDebug,
         format("building %1%") % showPaths(drvPaths));
 
-    Worker worker;
+    Worker worker(*this);
 
     Goals goals;
     for (PathSet::const_iterator i = drvPaths.begin();
@@ -2895,9 +2871,9 @@ void LocalStore::buildDerivations(const PathSet & drvPaths)
 void LocalStore::ensurePath(const Path & path)
 {
     /* If the path is already valid, we're done. */
-    if (store->isValidPath(path)) return;
+    if (isValidPath(path)) return;
 
-    Worker worker;
+    Worker worker(*this);
     GoalPtr goal = worker.makeSubstitutionGoal(path);
     Goals goals = singleton<Goals>(goal);
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/db.cc b/src/libstore/db.cc
index 59b9c0c8e339..26e82d695524 100644
--- a/src/libstore/db.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/db.cc
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+#include "config.h"
+
+#ifdef OLD_DB_COMPAT
+
 #include "db.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "pathlocks.hh"
@@ -466,3 +470,5 @@ void Database::clearTable(const Transaction & txn, TableId table)
 
 
 }
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/libstore/gc.cc b/src/libstore/gc.cc
index dab2b80aad06..1d654cd67408 100644
--- a/src/libstore/gc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/gc.cc
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 #include "misc.hh"
 #include "pathlocks.hh"
 #include "local-store.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
-#include "util.hh"
 
 #include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index 6a8de7bc42eb..2e53d0dc6da4 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "local-store.hh"
-#include "util.hh"
 #include "globals.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
 #include "pathlocks.hh"
 #include "aterm.hh"
@@ -16,50 +14,12 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <utime.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
 
 
 namespace nix {
 
     
-/* Nix database. */
-static Database nixDB;
-
-
-/* Database tables. */
-
-/* dbValidPaths :: Path -> ()
-
-   The existence of a key $p$ indicates that path $p$ is valid (that
-   is, produced by a succesful build). */
-static TableId dbValidPaths = 0;
-
-/* dbReferences :: Path -> [Path]
-
-   This table lists the outgoing file system references for each
-   output path that has been built by a Nix derivation.  These are
-   found by scanning the path for the hash components of input
-   paths. */
-static TableId dbReferences = 0;
-
-/* dbReferrers :: Path -> Path
-
-   This table is just the reverse mapping of dbReferences.  This table
-   can have duplicate keys, each corresponding value denoting a single
-   referrer. */
-static TableId dbReferrers = 0;
-
-/* dbDerivers :: Path -> [Path]
-
-   This table lists the derivation used to build a path.  There can
-   only be multiple such paths for fixed-output derivations (i.e.,
-   derivations specifying an expected hash). */
-static TableId dbDerivers = 0;
-
-
-static void upgradeStore09();
-static void upgradeStore11();
-
-
 void checkStoreNotSymlink()
 {
     if (getEnv("NIX_IGNORE_SYMLINK_STORE") == "1") return;
@@ -78,81 +38,62 @@ void checkStoreNotSymlink()
 }
 
 
-LocalStore::LocalStore(bool reserveSpace)
+LocalStore::LocalStore()
 {
     substitutablePathsLoaded = false;
     
+    schemaPath = nixDBPath + "/schema";
+    
     if (readOnlyMode) return;
 
     checkStoreNotSymlink();
 
-    try {
-        Path reservedPath = nixDBPath + "/reserved";
-        string s = querySetting("gc-reserved-space", "");
-        int reservedSize;
-        if (!string2Int(s, reservedSize)) reservedSize = 1024 * 1024;
-        if (reserveSpace) {
-            struct stat st;
-            if (stat(reservedPath.c_str(), &st) == -1 ||
-                st.st_size != reservedSize)
-                writeFile(reservedPath, string(reservedSize, 'X'));
-        }
-        else
-            deletePath(reservedPath);
-    } catch (SysError & e) { /* don't care about errors */
+    Path globalLockPath = nixDBPath + "/big-lock";
+    globalLock = openLockFile(globalLockPath.c_str(), true);
+    
+    if (!lockFile(globalLock, ltRead, false)) {
+        printMsg(lvlError, "waiting for the big Nix store lock...");
+        lockFile(globalLock, ltRead, true);
     }
 
-    try {
-        nixDB.open(nixDBPath);
-    } catch (DbNoPermission & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlTalkative, "cannot access Nix database; continuing anyway");
-        readOnlyMode = true;
-        return;
-    }
-    dbValidPaths = nixDB.openTable("validpaths");
-    dbReferences = nixDB.openTable("references");
-    dbReferrers = nixDB.openTable("referrers", true); /* must be sorted */
-    dbDerivers = nixDB.openTable("derivers");
+    createDirs(nixDBPath + "/info");
+    createDirs(nixDBPath + "/referrer");
 
-    int curSchema = 0;
-    Path schemaFN = nixDBPath + "/schema";
-    if (pathExists(schemaFN)) {
-        string s = readFile(schemaFN);
-        if (!string2Int(s, curSchema))
-            throw Error(format("`%1%' is corrupt") % schemaFN);
-    }
+    //printMsg(lvlTalkative, "cannot access Nix database; continuing anyway");
+    //readOnlyMode = true;
 
+    int curSchema = getSchema();
     if (curSchema > nixSchemaVersion)
         throw Error(format("current Nix store schema is version %1%, but I only support %2%")
             % curSchema % nixSchemaVersion);
-
-    if (curSchema < nixSchemaVersion) {
-        if (curSchema == 0) /* new store */
-            curSchema = nixSchemaVersion;
-        if (curSchema <= 1)
-            throw Error("your Nix store is no longer supported");
-        if (curSchema <= 2) upgradeStore09();
-        if (curSchema <= 3) upgradeStore11();
-        writeFile(schemaFN, (format("%1%") % nixSchemaVersion).str());
+    if (curSchema == 0) { /* new store */
+        curSchema = nixSchemaVersion; 
+        writeFile(schemaPath, (format("%1%") % nixSchemaVersion).str());
     }
+    if (curSchema == 1) throw Error("your Nix store is no longer supported");
+    if (curSchema < nixSchemaVersion) upgradeStore12();
 }
 
 
 LocalStore::~LocalStore()
 {
-    /* If the database isn't open, this is a NOP. */
     try {
-        nixDB.close();
+        flushDelayedUpdates();
     } catch (...) {
         ignoreException();
     }
 }
 
 
-void createStoreTransaction(Transaction & txn)
+int LocalStore::getSchema()
 {
-    Transaction txn2(nixDB);
-    txn2.moveTo(txn);
+    int curSchema = 0;
+    if (pathExists(schemaPath)) {
+        string s = readFile(schemaPath);
+        if (!string2Int(s, curSchema))
+            throw Error(format("`%1%' is corrupt") % schemaPath);
+    }
+    return curSchema;
 }
 
 
@@ -173,7 +114,7 @@ void copyPath(const Path & src, const Path & dst, PathFilter & filter)
 }
 
 
-static void _canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path, bool recurse)
+void canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path, bool recurse)
 {
     checkInterrupt();
 
@@ -181,7 +122,7 @@ static void _canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path, bool recurse)
     if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
 	throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path `%1%'") % path);
 
-    /* Change ownership to the current uid.  If its a symlink, use
+    /* Change ownership to the current uid.  If it's a symlink, use
        lchown if available, otherwise don't bother.  Wrong ownership
        of a symlink doesn't matter, since the owning user can't change
        the symlink and can't delete it because the directory is not
@@ -225,14 +166,14 @@ static void _canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path, bool recurse)
     if (recurse && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
         Strings names = readDirectory(path);
 	for (Strings::iterator i = names.begin(); i != names.end(); ++i)
-	    _canonicalisePathMetaData(path + "/" + *i, true);
+	    canonicalisePathMetaData(path + "/" + *i, true);
     }
 }
 
 
 void canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path)
 {
-    _canonicalisePathMetaData(path, true);
+    canonicalisePathMetaData(path, true);
 
     /* On platforms that don't have lchown(), the top-level path can't
        be a symlink, since we can't change its ownership. */
@@ -247,149 +188,278 @@ void canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path)
 }
 
 
-bool isValidPathTxn(const Transaction & txn, const Path & path)
+static Path infoFileFor(const Path & path)
 {
-    string s;
-    return nixDB.queryString(txn, dbValidPaths, path, s);
+    string baseName = baseNameOf(path);
+    return (format("%1%/info/%2%") % nixDBPath % baseName).str();
 }
 
 
-bool LocalStore::isValidPath(const Path & path)
+static Path referrersFileFor(const Path & path)
 {
-    return isValidPathTxn(noTxn, path);
+    string baseName = baseNameOf(path);
+    return (format("%1%/referrer/%2%") % nixDBPath % baseName).str();
 }
 
 
-PathSet LocalStore::queryValidPaths()
+static Path tmpFileForAtomicUpdate(const Path & path)
 {
-    Paths paths;
-    nixDB.enumTable(noTxn, dbValidPaths, paths);
-    return PathSet(paths.begin(), paths.end());
+    return (format("%1%/.%2%.%3%") % dirOf(path) % getpid() % baseNameOf(path)).str();
 }
 
 
-static string addPrefix(const string & prefix, const string & s)
+static void appendReferrer(const Path & from, const Path & to, bool lock)
 {
-    return prefix + string(1, (char) 0) + s;
+    Path referrersFile = referrersFileFor(from);
+    
+    PathLocks referrersLock;
+    if (lock) {
+        referrersLock.lockPaths(singleton<PathSet, Path>(referrersFile));
+        referrersLock.setDeletion(true);
+    }
+
+    AutoCloseFD fd = open(referrersFile.c_str(), O_WRONLY | O_APPEND | O_CREAT, 0666);
+    if (fd == -1) throw SysError(format("opening file `%1%'") % referrersFile);
+    
+    string s = " " + to;
+    writeFull(fd, (const unsigned char *) s.c_str(), s.size());
 }
 
 
-static string stripPrefix(const string & prefix, const string & s)
+/* Atomically update the referrers file.  If `purge' is true, the set
+   of referrers is set to `referrers'.  Otherwise, the current set of
+   referrers is purged of invalid paths. */
+void LocalStore::rewriteReferrers(const Path & path, bool purge, PathSet referrers)
 {
-    if (s.size() <= prefix.size() ||
-        string(s, 0, prefix.size()) != prefix ||
-        s[prefix.size()] != 0)
-        throw Error(format("string `%1%' is missing prefix `%2%'")
-            % s % prefix);
-    return string(s, prefix.size() + 1);
+    Path referrersFile = referrersFileFor(path);
+    
+    PathLocks referrersLock(singleton<PathSet, Path>(referrersFile));
+    referrersLock.setDeletion(true);
+
+    if (purge)
+        /* queryReferrers() purges invalid paths, so that's all we
+           need. */
+        queryReferrers(path, referrers);
+
+    Path tmpFile = tmpFileForAtomicUpdate(referrersFile);
+    
+    AutoCloseFD fd = open(tmpFile.c_str(), O_WRONLY | O_TRUNC | O_CREAT, 0666);
+    if (fd == -1) throw SysError(format("opening file `%1%'") % referrersFile);
+    
+    string s;
+    foreach (PathSet::const_iterator, i, referrers) {
+        s += " "; s += *i;
+    }
+    
+    writeFull(fd, (const unsigned char *) s.c_str(), s.size());
+
+    fd.close(); /* for Windows; can't rename open file */
+
+    if (rename(tmpFile.c_str(), referrersFile.c_str()) == -1)
+        throw SysError(format("cannot rename `%1%' to `%2%'") % tmpFile % referrersFile);
 }
 
 
-static PathSet getReferrers(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath)
+void LocalStore::flushDelayedUpdates()
 {
-    PathSet referrers;
-    Strings keys;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbReferrers, keys, storePath + string(1, (char) 0));
-    for (Strings::iterator i = keys.begin(); i != keys.end(); ++i)
-        referrers.insert(stripPrefix(storePath, *i));
-    return referrers;
+    foreach (PathSet::iterator, i, delayedUpdates) {
+        rewriteReferrers(*i, true, PathSet());
+    }
+    delayedUpdates.clear();
 }
 
 
-void setReferences(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath,
-    const PathSet & references)
+void LocalStore::registerValidPath(const Path & path,
+    const Hash & hash, const PathSet & references,
+    const Path & deriver)
+{
+    ValidPathInfo info;
+    info.path = path;
+    info.hash = hash;
+    info.references = references;
+    info.deriver = deriver;
+    registerValidPath(info);
+}
+
+
+void LocalStore::registerValidPath(const ValidPathInfo & info, bool ignoreValidity)
 {
-    /* For invalid paths, we can only clear the references. */
-    if (references.size() > 0 && !isValidPathTxn(txn, storePath))
-        throw Error(
-            format("cannot set references for invalid path `%1%'") % storePath);
+    Path infoFile = infoFileFor(info.path);
 
-    Paths oldReferences;
-    nixDB.queryStrings(txn, dbReferences, storePath, oldReferences);
+    ValidPathInfo oldInfo;
+    if (pathExists(infoFile)) oldInfo = queryPathInfo(info.path);
 
-    PathSet oldReferences2(oldReferences.begin(), oldReferences.end());
-    if (oldReferences2 == references) return;
-    
-    nixDB.setStrings(txn, dbReferences, storePath,
-        Paths(references.begin(), references.end()));
-
-    /* Update the referrers mappings of all new referenced paths. */
-    for (PathSet::const_iterator i = references.begin();
-         i != references.end(); ++i)
-        if (oldReferences2.find(*i) == oldReferences2.end())
-            nixDB.setString(txn, dbReferrers, addPrefix(*i, storePath), "");
-
-    /* Remove referrer mappings from paths that are no longer
-       references. */
-    for (Paths::iterator i = oldReferences.begin();
-         i != oldReferences.end(); ++i)
-        if (references.find(*i) == references.end())
-            nixDB.delPair(txn, dbReferrers, addPrefix(*i, storePath));
+    /* Note that it's possible for infoFile to already exist. */
+
+    /* Acquire a lock on each referrer file.  This prevents those
+       paths from being invalidated.  (It would be a violation of the
+       store invariants if we registered info.path as valid while some
+       of its references are invalid.)  NB: there can be no deadlock
+       here since we're acquiring the locks in sorted order. */
+    PathSet lockNames;
+    foreach (PathSet::const_iterator, i, info.references)
+        if (*i != info.path) lockNames.insert(referrersFileFor(*i));
+    PathLocks referrerLocks(lockNames);
+    referrerLocks.setDeletion(true);
+        
+    string refs;
+    foreach (PathSet::const_iterator, i, info.references) {
+        if (!refs.empty()) refs += " ";
+        refs += *i;
+
+        if (!ignoreValidity && *i != info.path && !isValidPath(*i))
+            throw Error(format("cannot register `%1%' as valid, because its reference `%2%' isn't valid")
+                % info.path % *i);
+
+        /* Update the referrer mapping for *i.  This must be done
+           before the info file is written to maintain the invariant
+           that if `path' is a valid path, then all its references
+           have referrer mappings back to `path'.  A " " is prefixed
+           to separate it from the previous entry.  It's not suffixed
+           to deal with interrupted partial writes to this file. */
+        if (oldInfo.references.find(*i) == oldInfo.references.end())
+            appendReferrer(*i, info.path, false);
+    }
+
+    string s = (format(
+        "Hash: sha256:%1%\n"
+        "References: %2%\n"
+        "Deriver: %3%\n"
+        "Registered-At: %4%\n")
+        % printHash(info.hash) % refs % info.deriver %
+        (oldInfo.registrationTime ? oldInfo.registrationTime : time(0))).str();
+
+    /* Atomically rewrite the info file. */
+    Path tmpFile = tmpFileForAtomicUpdate(infoFile);
+    writeFile(tmpFile, s);
+    if (rename(tmpFile.c_str(), infoFile.c_str()) == -1)
+        throw SysError(format("cannot rename `%1%' to `%2%'") % tmpFile % infoFile);
+
+    pathInfoCache[info.path] = info;
 }
 
 
-void queryReferences(const Transaction & txn,
-    const Path & storePath, PathSet & references)
+Hash parseHashField(const Path & path, const string & s)
 {
-    Paths references2;
-    if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, storePath))
-        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % storePath);
-    nixDB.queryStrings(txn, dbReferences, storePath, references2);
-    references.insert(references2.begin(), references2.end());
+    string::size_type colon = s.find(':');
+    if (colon == string::npos)
+        throw Error(format("corrupt hash `%1%' in valid-path entry for `%2%'")
+            % s % path);
+    HashType ht = parseHashType(string(s, 0, colon));
+    if (ht == htUnknown)
+        throw Error(format("unknown hash type `%1%' in valid-path entry for `%2%'")
+            % string(s, 0, colon) % path);
+    return parseHash(ht, string(s, colon + 1));
 }
 
 
-void LocalStore::queryReferences(const Path & storePath,
-    PathSet & references)
+ValidPathInfo LocalStore::queryPathInfo(const Path & path)
 {
-    nix::queryReferences(noTxn, storePath, references);
+    ValidPathInfo res;
+    res.path = path;
+
+    assertStorePath(path);
+
+    std::map<Path, ValidPathInfo>::iterator lookup = pathInfoCache.find(path);
+    if (lookup != pathInfoCache.end()) return lookup->second;
+    
+    //printMsg(lvlError, "queryPathInfo: " + path);
+    
+    /* Read the info file. */
+    Path infoFile = infoFileFor(path);
+    if (!pathExists(infoFile))
+        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % path);
+    string info = readFile(infoFile);
+
+    /* Parse it. */
+    Strings lines = tokenizeString(info, "\n");
+
+    for (Strings::iterator i = lines.begin(); i != lines.end(); ++i) {
+        unsigned int p = i->find(':');
+        if (p == string::npos) continue; /* bad line */
+        string name(*i, 0, p);
+        string value(*i, p + 2);
+        if (name == "References") {
+            Strings refs = tokenizeString(value, " ");
+            res.references = PathSet(refs.begin(), refs.end());
+        } else if (name == "Deriver") {
+            res.deriver = value;
+        } else if (name == "Hash") {
+            res.hash = parseHashField(path, value);
+        } else if (name == "Registered-At") {
+            int n = 0;
+            string2Int(value, n);
+            res.registrationTime = n;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return pathInfoCache[path] = res;
 }
 
 
-void queryReferrers(const Transaction & txn,
-    const Path & storePath, PathSet & referrers)
+bool LocalStore::isValidPath(const Path & path)
 {
-    if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, storePath))
-        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % storePath);
-    PathSet referrers2 = getReferrers(txn, storePath);
-    referrers.insert(referrers2.begin(), referrers2.end());
+    return pathExists(infoFileFor(path));
 }
 
 
-void LocalStore::queryReferrers(const Path & storePath,
-    PathSet & referrers)
+PathSet LocalStore::queryValidPaths()
 {
-    nix::queryReferrers(noTxn, storePath, referrers);
+    PathSet paths;
+    Strings entries = readDirectory(nixDBPath + "/info");
+    for (Strings::iterator i = entries.begin(); i != entries.end(); ++i) 
+        paths.insert(nixStore + "/" + *i);
+    return paths;
 }
 
 
-void setDeriver(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath,
-    const Path & deriver)
+void LocalStore::queryReferences(const Path & path,
+    PathSet & references)
 {
-    assertStorePath(storePath);
-    if (deriver == "") return;
-    assertStorePath(deriver);
-    if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, storePath))
-        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % storePath);
-    nixDB.setString(txn, dbDerivers, storePath, deriver);
+    ValidPathInfo info = queryPathInfo(path);
+    references.insert(info.references.begin(), info.references.end());
 }
 
 
-static Path queryDeriver(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath)
+bool LocalStore::queryReferrersInternal(const Path & path, PathSet & referrers)
 {
-    if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, storePath))
-        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % storePath);
-    Path deriver;
-    if (nixDB.queryString(txn, dbDerivers, storePath, deriver))
-        return deriver;
-    else
-        return "";
+    bool allValid = true;
+    
+    if (!isValidPath(path))
+        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % path);
+
+    /* No locking is necessary here: updates are only done by
+       appending or by atomically replacing the file.  When appending,
+       there is a possibility that we see a partial entry, but it will
+       just be filtered out below (the partially written path will not
+       be valid, so it will be ignored). */
+
+    Path referrersFile = referrersFileFor(path);
+    if (!pathExists(referrersFile)) return true;
+    
+    AutoCloseFD fd = open(referrersFile.c_str(), O_RDONLY);
+    if (fd == -1) throw SysError(format("opening file `%1%'") % referrersFile);
+
+    Paths refs = tokenizeString(readFile(fd), " ");
+
+    for (Paths::iterator i = refs.begin(); i != refs.end(); ++i)
+        /* Referrers can be invalid (see registerValidPath() for the
+           invariant), so we only return one if it is valid. */
+        if (isStorePath(*i) && isValidPath(*i)) referrers.insert(*i); else allValid = false;
+
+    return allValid;
+}
+
+
+void LocalStore::queryReferrers(const Path & path, PathSet & referrers)
+{
+    queryReferrersInternal(path, referrers);
 }
 
 
 Path LocalStore::queryDeriver(const Path & path)
 {
-    return nix::queryDeriver(noTxn, path);
+    return queryPathInfo(path).deriver;
 }
 
 
@@ -423,95 +493,92 @@ bool LocalStore::hasSubstitutes(const Path & path)
 }
 
 
-static void setHash(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath,
-    const Hash & hash)
-{
-    assert(hash.type == htSHA256);
-    nixDB.setString(txn, dbValidPaths, storePath, "sha256:" + printHash(hash));
-}
-
-
-static Hash queryHash(const Transaction & txn, const Path & storePath)
+Hash LocalStore::queryPathHash(const Path & path)
 {
-    string s;
-    nixDB.queryString(txn, dbValidPaths, storePath, s);
-    string::size_type colon = s.find(':');
-    if (colon == string::npos)
-        throw Error(format("corrupt hash `%1%' in valid-path entry for `%2%'")
-            % s % storePath);
-    HashType ht = parseHashType(string(s, 0, colon));
-    if (ht == htUnknown)
-        throw Error(format("unknown hash type `%1%' in valid-path entry for `%2%'")
-            % string(s, 0, colon) % storePath);
-    return parseHash(ht, string(s, colon + 1));
+    return queryPathInfo(path).hash;
 }
 
 
-Hash LocalStore::queryPathHash(const Path & path)
+static void dfsVisit(std::map<Path, ValidPathInfo> & infos,
+    const Path & path, PathSet & visited, Paths & sorted)
 {
-    if (!isValidPath(path))
-        throw Error(format("path `%1%' is not valid") % path);
-    return queryHash(noTxn, path);
-}
+    if (visited.find(path) != visited.end()) return;
+    visited.insert(path);
 
+    ValidPathInfo & info(infos[path]);
+    
+    for (PathSet::iterator i = info.references.begin();
+         i != info.references.end(); ++i)
+        if (infos.find(*i) != infos.end())
+            dfsVisit(infos, *i, visited, sorted);
 
-void registerValidPath(const Transaction & txn,
-    const Path & path, const Hash & hash, const PathSet & references,
-    const Path & deriver)
-{
-    ValidPathInfo info;
-    info.path = path;
-    info.hash = hash;
-    info.references = references;
-    info.deriver = deriver;
-    ValidPathInfos infos;
-    infos.push_back(info);
-    registerValidPaths(txn, infos);
+    sorted.push_back(path);
 }
 
 
-void registerValidPaths(const Transaction & txn,
-    const ValidPathInfos & infos)
+void LocalStore::registerValidPaths(const ValidPathInfos & infos)
 {
-    PathSet newPaths;
-    for (ValidPathInfos::const_iterator i = infos.begin();
-         i != infos.end(); ++i)
-        newPaths.insert(i->path);
-        
-    for (ValidPathInfos::const_iterator i = infos.begin();
-         i != infos.end(); ++i)
-    {
-        assertStorePath(i->path);
+    std::map<Path, ValidPathInfo> infosMap;
+    
+    /* Sort the paths topologically under the references relation, so
+       that if path A is referenced by B, then A is registered before
+       B. */
+    for (ValidPathInfos::const_iterator i = infos.begin(); i != infos.end(); ++i)
+        infosMap[i->path] = *i;
 
-        debug(format("registering path `%1%'") % i->path);
-        setHash(txn, i->path, i->hash);
+    PathSet visited;
+    Paths sorted;
+    for (ValidPathInfos::const_iterator i = infos.begin(); i != infos.end(); ++i)
+        dfsVisit(infosMap, i->path, visited, sorted);
 
-        setReferences(txn, i->path, i->references);
-    
-        /* Check that all referenced paths are also valid (or about to
-           become valid). */
-        for (PathSet::iterator j = i->references.begin();
-             j != i->references.end(); ++j)
-            if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, *j) && newPaths.find(*j) == newPaths.end())
-                throw Error(format("cannot register path `%1%' as valid, since its reference `%2%' is invalid")
-                    % i->path % *j);
-
-        setDeriver(txn, i->path, i->deriver);
-    }
+    for (Paths::iterator i = sorted.begin(); i != sorted.end(); ++i)
+        registerValidPath(infosMap[*i]);
 }
 
 
 /* Invalidate a path.  The caller is responsible for checking that
    there are no referrers. */
-static void invalidatePath(Transaction & txn, const Path & path)
+void LocalStore::invalidatePath(const Path & path)
 {
     debug(format("invalidating path `%1%'") % path);
 
-    /* Clear the `references' entry for this path, as well as the
-       inverse `referrers' entries, and the `derivers' entry. */
-    setReferences(txn, path, PathSet());
-    nixDB.delPair(txn, dbDerivers, path);
-    nixDB.delPair(txn, dbValidPaths, path);
+    ValidPathInfo info;
+
+    if (pathExists(infoFileFor(path))) {
+        info = queryPathInfo(path);
+
+        /* Remove the info file. */
+        Path p = infoFileFor(path);
+        if (unlink(p.c_str()) == -1)
+            throw SysError(format("unlinking `%1%'") % p);
+    }
+
+    /* Remove the referrers file for `path'. */
+    Path p = referrersFileFor(path);
+    if (pathExists(p) && unlink(p.c_str()) == -1)
+        throw SysError(format("unlinking `%1%'") % p);
+
+    /* Clear `path' from the info cache. */
+    pathInfoCache.erase(path);
+    delayedUpdates.erase(path);
+
+    /* Cause the referrer files for each path referenced by this one
+       to be updated.  This has to happen after removing the info file
+       to preserve the invariant (see registerValidPath()).
+
+       The referrer files are updated lazily in flushDelayedUpdates()
+       to prevent quadratic performance in the garbage collector
+       (i.e., when N referrers to some path X are deleted, we have to
+       rewrite the referrers file for X N times, causing O(N^2) I/O).
+
+       What happens if we die before the referrer file can be updated?
+       That's not a problem, because stale (invalid) entries in the
+       referrer file are ignored by queryReferrers().  Thus a referrer
+       file is allowed to have stale entries; removing them is just an
+       optimisation.  verifyStore() gets rid of them eventually.
+    */
+    foreach (PathSet::iterator, i, info.references)
+        if (*i != path) delayedUpdates.insert(*i);
 }
 
 
@@ -548,9 +615,7 @@ Path LocalStore::addToStore(const Path & _srcPath, bool fixed,
 
             canonicalisePathMetaData(dstPath);
             
-            Transaction txn(nixDB);
-            registerValidPath(txn, dstPath, h, PathSet(), "");
-            txn.commit();
+            registerValidPath(dstPath, h, PathSet(), "");
         }
 
         outputLock.setDeletion(true);
@@ -579,10 +644,8 @@ Path LocalStore::addTextToStore(const string & suffix, const string & s,
 
             canonicalisePathMetaData(dstPath);
             
-            Transaction txn(nixDB);
-            registerValidPath(txn, dstPath,
+            registerValidPath(dstPath,
                 hashPath(htSHA256, dstPath), references, "");
-            txn.commit();
         }
 
         outputLock.setDeletion(true);
@@ -774,13 +837,11 @@ Path LocalStore::importPath(bool requireSignature, Source & source)
 
             canonicalisePathMetaData(dstPath);
             
-            Transaction txn(nixDB);
             /* !!! if we were clever, we could prevent the hashPath()
                here. */
-            if (!isValidPath(deriver)) deriver = "";
-            registerValidPath(txn, dstPath,
+            if (deriver != "" && !isValidPath(deriver)) deriver = "";
+            registerValidPath(dstPath,
                 hashPath(htSHA256, dstPath), references, deriver);
-            txn.commit();
         }
         
         outputLock.setDeletion(true);
@@ -790,357 +851,142 @@ Path LocalStore::importPath(bool requireSignature, Source & source)
 }
 
 
-void deleteFromStore(const Path & _path, unsigned long long & bytesFreed)
+void LocalStore::deleteFromStore(const Path & path, unsigned long long & bytesFreed)
 {
     bytesFreed = 0;
-    Path path(canonPath(_path));
 
     assertStorePath(path);
 
-    Transaction txn(nixDB);
-    if (isValidPathTxn(txn, path)) {
-        PathSet referrers = getReferrers(txn, path);
-        for (PathSet::iterator i = referrers.begin();
-             i != referrers.end(); ++i)
-            if (*i != path && isValidPathTxn(txn, *i))
-                throw PathInUse(format("cannot delete path `%1%' because it is in use by path `%2%'") % path % *i);
-        invalidatePath(txn, path);
+    if (isValidPath(path)) {
+        /* Acquire a lock on the referrers file to prevent new
+           referrers to this path from appearing while we're deleting
+           it. */
+        PathLocks referrersLock(singleton<PathSet, Path>(referrersFileFor(path)));
+        referrersLock.setDeletion(true);
+        PathSet referrers; queryReferrers(path, referrers);
+        referrers.erase(path); /* ignore self-references */
+        if (!referrers.empty())
+            throw PathInUse(format("cannot delete path `%1%' because it is in use by `%2%'")
+                % path % showPaths(referrers));
+        invalidatePath(path);
     }
-    txn.commit();
 
     deletePathWrapped(path, bytesFreed);
 }
 
 
-void verifyStore(bool checkContents)
+void LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents)
 {
-    Transaction txn(nixDB);
-
-    
+    /* Check whether all valid paths actually exist. */
     printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking path existence");
 
-    Paths paths;
-    PathSet validPaths;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbValidPaths, paths);
-
-    for (Paths::iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
+    PathSet validPaths2 = queryValidPaths(), validPaths;
+    
+    for (PathSet::iterator i = validPaths2.begin(); i != validPaths2.end(); ++i) {
         checkInterrupt();
-        if (!pathExists(*i)) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("path `%1%' disappeared") % *i);
-            invalidatePath(txn, *i);
-        } else if (!isStorePath(*i)) {
+        if (!isStorePath(*i)) {
             printMsg(lvlError, format("path `%1%' is not in the Nix store") % *i);
-            invalidatePath(txn, *i);
-        } else {
-            if (checkContents) {
-                debug(format("checking contents of `%1%'") % *i);
-                Hash expected = queryHash(txn, *i);
-                Hash current = hashPath(expected.type, *i);
-                if (current != expected) {
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("path `%1%' was modified! "
-                                 "expected hash `%2%', got `%3%'")
-                        % *i % printHash(expected) % printHash(current));
-                }
-            }
+            invalidatePath(*i);
+        } else if (!pathExists(*i)) {
+            printMsg(lvlError, format("path `%1%' disappeared") % *i);
+            invalidatePath(*i);
+        } else
             validPaths.insert(*i);
-        }
     }
 
 
-    /* Check the cleanup invariant: only valid paths can have
-       `references', `referrers', or `derivers' entries. */
-
+    /* Check the store path meta-information. */
+    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking path meta-information");
 
-    /* Check the `derivers' table. */
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking the derivers table");
-    Paths deriversKeys;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbDerivers, deriversKeys);
-    for (Paths::iterator i = deriversKeys.begin();
-         i != deriversKeys.end(); ++i)
-    {
-        if (validPaths.find(*i) == validPaths.end()) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing deriver entry for invalid path `%1%'")
-                % *i);
-            nixDB.delPair(txn, dbDerivers, *i);
-        }
-        else {
-            Path deriver = queryDeriver(txn, *i);
-            if (!isStorePath(deriver)) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, format("removing corrupt deriver `%1%' for `%2%'")
-                    % deriver % *i);
-                nixDB.delPair(txn, dbDerivers, *i);
+    std::map<Path, PathSet> referrersCache;
+    
+    for (PathSet::iterator i = validPaths.begin(); i != validPaths.end(); ++i) {
+        bool update = false;
+        ValidPathInfo info = queryPathInfo(*i);
+
+        /* Check the references: each reference should be valid, and
+           it should have a matching referrer. */
+        for (PathSet::iterator j = info.references.begin();
+             j != info.references.end(); ++j)
+        {
+            if (referrersCache.find(*j) == referrersCache.end())
+                queryReferrers(*j, referrersCache[*j]);
+            if (referrersCache[*j].find(*i) == referrersCache[*j].end()) {
+                printMsg(lvlError, format("adding missing referrer mapping from `%1%' to `%2%'")
+                    % *j % *i);
+                appendReferrer(*j, *i, true);
             }
-        }
-    }
-
-
-    /* Check the `references' table. */
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking the references table");
-    Paths referencesKeys;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbReferences, referencesKeys);
-    for (Paths::iterator i = referencesKeys.begin();
-         i != referencesKeys.end(); ++i)
-    {
-        if (validPaths.find(*i) == validPaths.end()) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing references entry for invalid path `%1%'")
-                % *i);
-            setReferences(txn, *i, PathSet());
-        }
-        else {
-            PathSet references;
-            queryReferences(txn, *i, references);
-            for (PathSet::iterator j = references.begin();
-                 j != references.end(); ++j)
-            {
-                string dummy;
-                if (!nixDB.queryString(txn, dbReferrers, addPrefix(*j, *i), dummy)) {
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("adding missing referrer mapping from `%1%' to `%2%'")
-                        % *j % *i);
-                    nixDB.setString(txn, dbReferrers, addPrefix(*j, *i), "");
-                }
-                if (validPaths.find(*j) == validPaths.end()) {
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("incomplete closure: `%1%' needs missing `%2%'")
-                        % *i % *j);
-                }
+            if (validPaths.find(*j) == validPaths.end()) {
+                printMsg(lvlError, format("incomplete closure: `%1%' needs missing `%2%'")
+                    % *i % *j);
+                /* nothing we can do about it... */
             }
         }
-    }
 
-    /* Check the `referrers' table. */
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking the referrers table");
-    Strings referrers;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbReferrers, referrers);
-    for (Strings::iterator i = referrers.begin(); i != referrers.end(); ++i) {
-
-        /* Decode the entry (it's a tuple of paths). */
-        string::size_type nul = i->find((char) 0);
-        if (nul == string::npos) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing bad referrer table entry `%1%'") % *i);
-            nixDB.delPair(txn, dbReferrers, *i);
-            continue;
-        }
-        Path to(*i, 0, nul);
-        Path from(*i, nul + 1);
-        
-        if (validPaths.find(to) == validPaths.end()) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing referrer entry from `%1%' to invalid `%2%'")
-                % from % to);
-            nixDB.delPair(txn, dbReferrers, *i);
+        /* Check the deriver.  (Note that the deriver doesn't have to
+           be a valid path.) */
+        if (!info.deriver.empty() && !isStorePath(info.deriver)) {
+            info.deriver = "";
+            update = true;
         }
 
-        else if (validPaths.find(from) == validPaths.end()) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing referrer entry from invalid `%1%' to `%2%'")
-                % from % to);
-            nixDB.delPair(txn, dbReferrers, *i);
-        }
-        
-        else {
-            PathSet references;
-            queryReferences(txn, from, references);
-            if (find(references.begin(), references.end(), to) == references.end()) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, format("adding missing referrer mapping from `%1%' to `%2%'")
-                    % from % to);
-                references.insert(to);
-                setReferences(txn, from, references);
+        /* Check the content hash (optionally - slow). */
+        if (checkContents) {
+            debug(format("checking contents of `%1%'") % *i);
+            Hash current = hashPath(info.hash.type, *i);
+            if (current != info.hash) {
+                printMsg(lvlError, format("path `%1%' was modified! "
+                        "expected hash `%2%', got `%3%'")
+                    % *i % printHash(info.hash) % printHash(current));
             }
         }
-        
-    }
 
-    
-    txn.commit();
-}
-
-
-typedef std::map<Hash, std::pair<Path, ino_t> > HashToPath;
-
-
-static void makeWritable(const Path & path)
-{
-    struct stat st;
-    if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
-	throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path `%1%'") % path);
-    if (chmod(path.c_str(), st.st_mode | S_IWUSR) == -1)
-        throw SysError(format("changing writability of `%1%'") % path);
-}
-
-
-static void hashAndLink(bool dryRun, HashToPath & hashToPath,
-    OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path)
-{
-    struct stat st;
-    if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
-	throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path `%1%'") % path);
-
-    /* Sometimes SNAFUs can cause files in the Nix store to be
-       modified, in particular when running programs as root under
-       NixOS (example: $fontconfig/var/cache being modified).  Skip
-       those files. */
-    if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) && (st.st_mode & S_IWUSR)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("skipping suspicious writable file `%1%'") % path);
-        return;
+        if (update) registerValidPath(info);
     }
 
-    /* We can hard link regular files and symlinks. */
-    if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) || S_ISLNK(st.st_mode)) {
-
-        /* Hash the file.  Note that hashPath() returns the hash over
-           the NAR serialisation, which includes the execute bit on
-           the file.  Thus, executable and non-executable files with
-           the same contents *won't* be linked (which is good because
-           otherwise the permissions would be screwed up).
-
-           Also note that if `path' is a symlink, then we're hashing
-           the contents of the symlink (i.e. the result of
-           readlink()), not the contents of the target (which may not
-           even exist). */
-        Hash hash = hashPath(htSHA256, path);
-        stats.totalFiles++;
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("`%1%' has hash `%2%'") % path % printHash(hash));
-
-        std::pair<Path, ino_t> prevPath = hashToPath[hash];
-        
-        if (prevPath.first == "") {
-            hashToPath[hash] = std::pair<Path, ino_t>(path, st.st_ino);
-            return;
-        }
-            
-        /* Yes!  We've seen a file with the same contents.  Replace
-           the current file with a hard link to that file. */
-        stats.sameContents++;
-        if (prevPath.second == st.st_ino) {
-            printMsg(lvlDebug, format("`%1%' is already linked to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
-            return;
-        }
-        
-        if (!dryRun) {
-            
-            printMsg(lvlTalkative, format("linking `%1%' to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
-
-            Path tempLink = (format("%1%.tmp-%2%-%3%")
-                % path % getpid() % rand()).str();
-
-            /* Make the containing directory writable, but only if
-               it's not the store itself (we don't want or need to
-               mess with  its permissions). */
-            bool mustToggle = !isStorePath(path);
-            if (mustToggle) makeWritable(dirOf(path));
-        
-            if (link(prevPath.first.c_str(), tempLink.c_str()) == -1)
-                throw SysError(format("cannot link `%1%' to `%2%'")
-                    % tempLink % prevPath.first);
-
-            /* Atomically replace the old file with the new hard link. */
-            if (rename(tempLink.c_str(), path.c_str()) == -1)
-                throw SysError(format("cannot rename `%1%' to `%2%'")
-                    % tempLink % path);
-
-            /* Make the directory read-only again and reset its
-               timestamp back to 0. */
-            if (mustToggle) _canonicalisePathMetaData(dirOf(path), false);
-            
-        } else
-            printMsg(lvlTalkative, format("would link `%1%' to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
-        
-        stats.filesLinked++;
-        stats.bytesFreed += st.st_size;
-    }
-
-    if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
-        Strings names = readDirectory(path);
-	for (Strings::iterator i = names.begin(); i != names.end(); ++i)
-	    hashAndLink(dryRun, hashToPath, stats, path + "/" + *i);
-    }
-}
-
-
-void LocalStore::optimiseStore(bool dryRun, OptimiseStats & stats)
-{
-    HashToPath hashToPath;
+    referrersCache.clear();
     
-    Paths paths;
-    PathSet validPaths;
-    nixDB.enumTable(noTxn, dbValidPaths, paths);
-
-    for (Paths::iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
-        addTempRoot(*i);
-        if (!isValidPath(*i)) continue; /* path was GC'ed, probably */
-        startNest(nest, lvlChatty, format("hashing files in `%1%'") % *i);
-        hashAndLink(dryRun, hashToPath, stats, *i);
-    }
-}
 
+    /* Check the referrers. */
+    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking referrers");
 
-/* Upgrade from schema 2 (0.8 <= Nix <= 0.9) to schema 3 (Nix >=
-   0.10).  The only thing to do here is to upgrade the old `referer'
-   table (which causes quadratic complexity in some cases) to the new
-   (and properly spelled) `referrer' table. */
-static void upgradeStore09() 
-{
-    /* !!! we should disallow concurrent upgrades */
+    std::map<Path, PathSet> referencesCache;
     
-    if (!pathExists(nixDBPath + "/referers")) return;
-
-    printMsg(lvlError, "upgrading Nix store to new schema (this may take a while)...");
-
-    Transaction txn(nixDB);
-
-    std::cerr << "converting referers to referrers...";
-
-    TableId dbReferers = nixDB.openTable("referers"); /* sic! */
-
-    Paths referersKeys;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbReferers, referersKeys);
-
-    int n = 0;
-    for (Paths::iterator i = referersKeys.begin();
-         i != referersKeys.end(); ++i)
-    {
-        Paths referers;
-        nixDB.queryStrings(txn, dbReferers, *i, referers);
-        for (Paths::iterator j = referers.begin();
-             j != referers.end(); ++j)
-            nixDB.setString(txn, dbReferrers, addPrefix(*i, *j), "");
-        if (++n % 1000 == 0) {
-            txn.commit();
-            txn.begin(nixDB);
-            std::cerr << "|";
+    Strings entries = readDirectory(nixDBPath + "/referrer");
+    for (Strings::iterator i = entries.begin(); i != entries.end(); ++i) {
+        Path from = nixStore + "/" + *i;
+        
+        if (validPaths.find(from) == validPaths.end()) {
+            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing referrers file for invalid `%1%'") % from);
+            Path p = referrersFileFor(from);
+            if (unlink(p.c_str()) == -1)
+                throw SysError(format("unlinking `%1%'") % p);
+            continue;
         }
-        std::cerr << ".";
-    }
-
-    txn.commit();
-    
-    std::cerr << std::endl;
 
-    nixDB.closeTable(dbReferers);
+        PathSet referrers;
+        bool allValid = queryReferrersInternal(from, referrers);
+        bool update = false;
 
-    nixDB.deleteTable("referers");
-}
-
- 
-/* Upgrade from schema 3 (Nix 0.10) to schema 4 (Nix >= 0.11).  The
-   only thing to do here is to delete the substitutes table and get
-   rid of invalid but substitutable references/referrers.  */
-static void upgradeStore11()
-{
-    if (!pathExists(nixDBPath + "/substitutes")) return;
-
-    printMsg(lvlError, "upgrading Nix store to new schema (this may take a while)...");
+        if (!allValid) {
+            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing some stale referrers for `%1%'") % from);
+            update = true;
+        }
 
-    Transaction txn(nixDB);
-    TableId dbSubstitutes = nixDB.openTable("substitutes");
+        /* Each referrer should have a matching reference. */
+        PathSet referrersNew;
+        for (PathSet::iterator j = referrers.begin(); j != referrers.end(); ++j) {
+            if (referencesCache.find(*j) == referencesCache.end())
+                queryReferences(*j, referencesCache[*j]);
+            if (referencesCache[*j].find(from) == referencesCache[*j].end()) {
+                printMsg(lvlError, format("removing unexpected referrer mapping from `%1%' to `%2%'")
+                    % from % *j);
+                update = true;
+            } else referrersNew.insert(*j);
+        }
 
-    Paths subKeys;
-    nixDB.enumTable(txn, dbSubstitutes, subKeys);
-    for (Paths::iterator i = subKeys.begin(); i != subKeys.end(); ++i) {
-        if (!isValidPathTxn(txn, *i))
-            invalidatePath(txn, *i);
+        if (update) rewriteReferrers(from, false, referrersNew);
     }
-    
-    txn.commit();
-    nixDB.closeTable(dbSubstitutes);
-    nixDB.deleteTable("substitutes");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.hh b/src/libstore/local-store.hh
index 9e6130013621..57d9d765e420 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.hh
@@ -4,18 +4,16 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #include "store-api.hh"
+#include "util.hh"
 
 
 namespace nix {
 
 
-class Transaction;
-
-
 /* Nix store and database schema version.  Version 1 (or 0) was Nix <=
    0.7.  Version 2 was Nix 0.8 and 0.9.  Version 3 is Nix 0.10.
-   Version 4 is Nix 0.11. */
-const int nixSchemaVersion = 4;
+   Version 4 is Nix 0.11.  Version 5 is Nix 0.12*/
+const int nixSchemaVersion = 5;
 
 
 extern string drvsLogDir;
@@ -43,15 +41,9 @@ private:
     
 public:
 
-    /* Open the database environment.  If `reserveSpace' is true, make
-       sure that a big empty file exists in /nix/var/nix/db/reserved.
-       If `reserveSpace' is false, delete this file if it exists.  The
-       idea is that on normal operation, the file exists; but when we
-       run the garbage collector, it is deleted.  This is to ensure
-       that the garbage collector has a small amount of disk space
-       available, which is required to open the Berkeley DB
-       environment. */
-    LocalStore(bool reserveSpace);
+    /* Initialise the local store, upgrading the schema if
+       necessary. */
+    LocalStore();
 
     ~LocalStore();
     
@@ -100,32 +92,62 @@ public:
     void collectGarbage(GCAction action, const PathSet & pathsToDelete,
         bool ignoreLiveness, PathSet & result, unsigned long long & bytesFreed);
 
+    /* Delete a path from the Nix store. */
+    void deleteFromStore(const Path & path, unsigned long long & bytesFreed);
+    
     /* Optimise the disk space usage of the Nix store by hard-linking
        files with the same contents. */
     void optimiseStore(bool dryRun, OptimiseStats & stats);
-};
 
+    /* Check the integrity of the Nix store. */
+    void verifyStore(bool checkContents);
 
-/* Get a transaction object. */
-void createStoreTransaction(Transaction & txn);
+    /* Register the validity of a path, i.e., that `path' exists, that
+       the paths referenced by it exists, and in the case of an output
+       path of a derivation, that it has been produced by a succesful
+       execution of the derivation (or something equivalent).  Also
+       register the hash of the file system contents of the path.  The
+       hash must be a SHA-256 hash. */
+    void registerValidPath(const Path & path,
+        const Hash & hash, const PathSet & references, const Path & deriver);
 
-/* Copy a path recursively. */
-void copyPath(const Path & src, const Path & dst);
+    void registerValidPaths(const ValidPathInfos & infos);
+
+private:
+
+    Path schemaPath;
+
+    /* Lock file used for upgrading. */
+    AutoCloseFD globalLock;
+
+    /* !!! The cache can grow very big.  Maybe it should be pruned
+       every once in a while. */
+    std::map<Path, ValidPathInfo> pathInfoCache;
 
-/* Register the validity of a path, i.e., that `path' exists, that the
-   paths referenced by it exists, and in the case of an output path of
-   a derivation, that it has been produced by a succesful execution of
-   the derivation (or something equivalent).  Also register the hash
-   of the file system contents of the path.  The hash must be a
-   SHA-256 hash. */
-void registerValidPath(const Transaction & txn,
-    const Path & path, const Hash & hash, const PathSet & references,
-    const Path & deriver);
+    /* Store paths for which the referrers file must be purged. */
+    PathSet delayedUpdates;
 
-typedef list<ValidPathInfo> ValidPathInfos;
+    int getSchema();
 
-void registerValidPaths(const Transaction & txn,
-    const ValidPathInfos & infos);
+    void registerValidPath(const ValidPathInfo & info, bool ignoreValidity = false);
+
+    ValidPathInfo queryPathInfo(const Path & path);
+
+    void rewriteReferrers(const Path & path, bool purge, PathSet referrers);
+
+    void flushDelayedUpdates();
+    
+    bool queryReferrersInternal(const Path & path, PathSet & referrers);
+    
+    void invalidatePath(const Path & path);
+    
+    void upgradeStore12();
+
+};
+
+
+/* Copy a path recursively. */
+void copyPath(const Path & src, const Path & dst);
 
 /* "Fix", or canonicalise, the meta-data of the files in a store path
    after it has been built.  In particular:
@@ -137,25 +159,10 @@ void registerValidPaths(const Transaction & txn,
      in a setuid Nix installation. */
 void canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path);
 
-/* Checks whether a path is valid. */ 
-bool isValidPathTxn(const Transaction & txn, const Path & path);
-
-/* Sets the set of outgoing FS references for a store path.  Use with
-   care! */
-void setReferences(const Transaction & txn, const Path & path,
-    const PathSet & references);
-
-/* Sets the deriver of a store path.  Use with care! */
-void setDeriver(const Transaction & txn, const Path & path,
-    const Path & deriver);
-
-/* Delete a value from the nixStore directory. */
-void deleteFromStore(const Path & path, unsigned long long & bytesFreed);
+void canonicalisePathMetaData(const Path & path, bool recurse);
 
 MakeError(PathInUse, Error);
 
-void verifyStore(bool checkContents);
-
 /* Whether we are in build users mode. */
 bool haveBuildUsers();
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/misc.cc b/src/libstore/misc.cc
index 25529d8bac67..4b192ec9a0d9 100644
--- a/src/libstore/misc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/misc.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #include "misc.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 
 #include <aterm2.h>
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c260f253e3c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+#include "util.hh"
+#include "local-store.hh"
+
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+
+namespace nix {
+
+
+typedef std::map<Hash, std::pair<Path, ino_t> > HashToPath;
+
+
+static void makeWritable(const Path & path)
+{
+    struct stat st;
+    if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
+	throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path `%1%'") % path);
+    if (chmod(path.c_str(), st.st_mode | S_IWUSR) == -1)
+        throw SysError(format("changing writability of `%1%'") % path);
+}
+
+
+static void hashAndLink(bool dryRun, HashToPath & hashToPath,
+    OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path)
+{
+    struct stat st;
+    if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
+	throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path `%1%'") % path);
+
+    /* Sometimes SNAFUs can cause files in the Nix store to be
+       modified, in particular when running programs as root under
+       NixOS (example: $fontconfig/var/cache being modified).  Skip
+       those files. */
+    if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) && (st.st_mode & S_IWUSR)) {
+        printMsg(lvlError, format("skipping suspicious writable file `%1%'") % path);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /* We can hard link regular files and symlinks. */
+    if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) || S_ISLNK(st.st_mode)) {
+
+        /* Hash the file.  Note that hashPath() returns the hash over
+           the NAR serialisation, which includes the execute bit on
+           the file.  Thus, executable and non-executable files with
+           the same contents *won't* be linked (which is good because
+           otherwise the permissions would be screwed up).
+
+           Also note that if `path' is a symlink, then we're hashing
+           the contents of the symlink (i.e. the result of
+           readlink()), not the contents of the target (which may not
+           even exist). */
+        Hash hash = hashPath(htSHA256, path);
+        stats.totalFiles++;
+        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("`%1%' has hash `%2%'") % path % printHash(hash));
+
+        std::pair<Path, ino_t> prevPath = hashToPath[hash];
+        
+        if (prevPath.first == "") {
+            hashToPath[hash] = std::pair<Path, ino_t>(path, st.st_ino);
+            return;
+        }
+            
+        /* Yes!  We've seen a file with the same contents.  Replace
+           the current file with a hard link to that file. */
+        stats.sameContents++;
+        if (prevPath.second == st.st_ino) {
+            printMsg(lvlDebug, format("`%1%' is already linked to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
+            return;
+        }
+        
+        if (!dryRun) {
+            
+            printMsg(lvlTalkative, format("linking `%1%' to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
+
+            Path tempLink = (format("%1%.tmp-%2%-%3%")
+                % path % getpid() % rand()).str();
+
+            /* Make the containing directory writable, but only if
+               it's not the store itself (we don't want or need to
+               mess with  its permissions). */
+            bool mustToggle = !isStorePath(path);
+            if (mustToggle) makeWritable(dirOf(path));
+        
+            if (link(prevPath.first.c_str(), tempLink.c_str()) == -1)
+                throw SysError(format("cannot link `%1%' to `%2%'")
+                    % tempLink % prevPath.first);
+
+            /* Atomically replace the old file with the new hard link. */
+            if (rename(tempLink.c_str(), path.c_str()) == -1)
+                throw SysError(format("cannot rename `%1%' to `%2%'")
+                    % tempLink % path);
+
+            /* Make the directory read-only again and reset its
+               timestamp back to 0. */
+            if (mustToggle) canonicalisePathMetaData(dirOf(path), false);
+            
+        } else
+            printMsg(lvlTalkative, format("would link `%1%' to `%2%'") % path % prevPath.first);
+        
+        stats.filesLinked++;
+        stats.bytesFreed += st.st_size;
+    }
+
+    if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
+        Strings names = readDirectory(path);
+	for (Strings::iterator i = names.begin(); i != names.end(); ++i)
+	    hashAndLink(dryRun, hashToPath, stats, path + "/" + *i);
+    }
+}
+
+
+void LocalStore::optimiseStore(bool dryRun, OptimiseStats & stats)
+{
+    HashToPath hashToPath;
+
+    PathSet paths = queryValidPaths();
+
+    for (PathSet::iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
+        addTempRoot(*i);
+        if (!isValidPath(*i)) continue; /* path was GC'ed, probably */
+        startNest(nest, lvlChatty, format("hashing files in `%1%'") % *i);
+        hashAndLink(dryRun, hashToPath, stats, *i);
+    }
+}
+
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index b5bc85e1823f..0d516c198d3b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -205,6 +205,19 @@ ValidPathInfo decodeValidPathInfo(std::istream & str, bool hashGiven)
 }
 
 
+string showPaths(const PathSet & paths)
+{
+    string s;
+    for (PathSet::const_iterator i = paths.begin();
+         i != paths.end(); ++i)
+    {
+        if (s.size() != 0) s += ", ";
+        s += "`" + *i + "'";
+    }
+    return s;
+}
+
+
 }
 
 
@@ -219,10 +232,10 @@ namespace nix {
 boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> store;
 
 
-boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> openStore(bool reserveSpace)
+boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> openStore()
 {
     if (getEnv("NIX_REMOTE") == "")
-        return boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI>(new LocalStore(reserveSpace));
+        return boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI>(new LocalStore());
     else
         return boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI>(new RemoteStore());
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.hh b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
index 39a7c9b70a21..a50dcf645193 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
@@ -249,7 +249,12 @@ extern boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> store;
 
 /* Factory method: open the Nix database, either through the local or
    remote implementation. */
-boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> openStore(bool reserveSpace = true);
+boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI> openStore();
+
+
+/* Display a set of paths in human-readable form (i.e., between quotes
+   and separated by commas). */
+string showPaths(const PathSet & paths);
 
 
 string makeValidityRegistration(const PathSet & paths,
@@ -261,8 +266,12 @@ struct ValidPathInfo
     Path deriver;
     Hash hash;
     PathSet references;
+    time_t registrationTime;
+    ValidPathInfo() : registrationTime(0) { }
 };
 
+typedef list<ValidPathInfo> ValidPathInfos;
+
 ValidPathInfo decodeValidPathInfo(std::istream & str,
     bool hashGiven = false);
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/upgrade-schema.cc b/src/libstore/upgrade-schema.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..450a7c8d06f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/upgrade-schema.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+#include "db.hh"
+#include "hash.hh"
+#include "util.hh"
+#include "local-store.hh"
+#include "globals.hh"
+#include "pathlocks.hh"
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+
+namespace nix {
+
+
+Hash parseHashField(const Path & path, const string & s);
+
+
+/* Upgrade from schema 4 (Nix 0.11) to schema 5 (Nix >= 0.12).  The
+   old schema uses Berkeley DB, the new one stores store path
+   meta-information in files. */
+void LocalStore::upgradeStore12()
+{
+#if OLD_DB_COMPAT
+    
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+    /* Cygwin can't upgrade a read lock to a write lock... */
+    lockFile(globalLock, ltNone, true);
+#endif
+
+    if (!lockFile(globalLock, ltWrite, false)) {
+        printMsg(lvlError, "waiting for exclusive access to the Nix store...");
+        lockFile(globalLock, ltWrite, true);
+    }
+
+    printMsg(lvlError, "upgrading Nix store to new schema (this may take a while)...");
+
+    if (getSchema() >= nixSchemaVersion) return; /* somebody else beat us to it */
+
+    /* Open the old Nix database and tables. */
+    Database nixDB;
+    nixDB.open(nixDBPath);
+    
+    /* dbValidPaths :: Path -> ()
+
+       The existence of a key $p$ indicates that path $p$ is valid
+       (that is, produced by a succesful build). */
+    TableId dbValidPaths = nixDB.openTable("validpaths");
+
+    /* dbReferences :: Path -> [Path]
+
+       This table lists the outgoing file system references for each
+       output path that has been built by a Nix derivation.  These are
+       found by scanning the path for the hash components of input
+       paths. */
+    TableId dbReferences = nixDB.openTable("references");
+
+    /* dbReferrers :: Path -> Path
+
+       This table is just the reverse mapping of dbReferences.  This
+       table can have duplicate keys, each corresponding value
+       denoting a single referrer. */
+    // Not needed for conversion: it's just the inverse of
+    // references.
+    // TableId dbReferrers = nixDB.openTable("referrers");
+
+    /* dbDerivers :: Path -> [Path]
+
+       This table lists the derivation used to build a path.  There
+       can only be multiple such paths for fixed-output derivations
+       (i.e., derivations specifying an expected hash). */
+    TableId dbDerivers = nixDB.openTable("derivers");
+
+    Paths paths;
+    nixDB.enumTable(noTxn, dbValidPaths, paths);
+    
+    for (Paths::iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
+        ValidPathInfo info;
+        info.path = *i;
+        
+        Paths references;
+        nixDB.queryStrings(noTxn, dbReferences, *i, references);
+        info.references.insert(references.begin(), references.end());
+        
+        string s;
+        nixDB.queryString(noTxn, dbValidPaths, *i, s);
+        info.hash = parseHashField(*i, s);
+        
+        nixDB.queryString(noTxn, dbDerivers, *i, info.deriver);
+        
+        registerValidPath(info, true);
+        std::cerr << ".";
+    }
+
+    std::cerr << std::endl;
+
+    writeFile(schemaPath, (format("%1%") % nixSchemaVersion).str());
+
+    lockFile(globalLock, ltRead, true);
+
+#else
+    throw Error(
+        "Your Nix store has a database in Berkeley DB format. To convert\n"
+        "to the new format, please compile Nix with Berkeley DB support.");
+#endif
+}
+
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.cc b/src/libutil/util.cc
index f978856a96cc..e18f9841fd4d 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/util.cc
@@ -361,9 +361,10 @@ Path createTempDir(const Path & tmpRoot, const Path & prefix,
 
 Paths createDirs(const Path & path)
 {
-    if (path == "/") return Paths();
-    Paths created = createDirs(dirOf(path));
+    Paths created;
+    if (path == "/") return created;
     if (!pathExists(path)) {
+        created = createDirs(dirOf(path));
         if (mkdir(path.c_str(), 0777) == -1)
             throw SysError(format("creating directory `%1%'") % path);
         created.push_back(path);
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.hh b/src/libutil/util.hh
index d75002b021d3..d52ab3e4d920 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/util.hh
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 namespace nix {
 
 
+#define foreach(it_type, it, collection)                                \
+    for (it_type it = collection.begin(); it != collection.end(); ++it)
+
+
 /* Return an environment variable. */
 string getEnv(const string & key, const string & def = "");
 
diff --git a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
index 1af1a2f536d1..f561dc2e514c 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #include "common-opts.hh"
 #include "xml-writer.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 
 #include <cerrno>
diff --git a/src/nix-store/dotgraph.cc b/src/nix-store/dotgraph.cc
index 989945600f23..83df9e9cd0ce 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/dotgraph.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/dotgraph.cc
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #include "dotgraph.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 
 #include <iostream>
 
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 17b3c18fad9f..df027fcc7646 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #include "shared.hh"
 #include "dotgraph.hh"
 #include "local-store.hh"
-#include "db.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "help.txt.hh"
 
@@ -31,6 +30,14 @@ static int rootNr = 0;
 static bool indirectRoot = false;
 
 
+LocalStore & ensureLocalStore()
+{
+    LocalStore * store2(dynamic_cast<LocalStore *>(store.get()));
+    if (!store2) throw Error("you don't have sufficient rights to use --verify");
+    return *store2;
+}
+
+
 static Path useDeriver(Path path)
 {       
     if (!isDerivation(path)) {
@@ -430,10 +437,7 @@ static void registerValidity(bool reregister, bool hashGiven, bool canonicalise)
         }
     }
 
-    Transaction txn;
-    createStoreTransaction(txn);
-    registerValidPaths(txn, infos);
-    txn.commit();
+    ensureLocalStore().registerValidPaths(infos);
 }
 
 
@@ -641,11 +645,10 @@ static void opVerify(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         if (*i == "--check-contents") checkContents = true;
         else throw UsageError(format("unknown flag `%1%'") % *i);
     
-    verifyStore(checkContents);
+    ensureLocalStore().verifyStore(checkContents);
 }
 
 
-
 static void showOptimiseStats(OptimiseStats & stats)
 {
     printMsg(lvlError,
@@ -671,12 +674,9 @@ static void opOptimise(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         if (*i == "--dry-run") dryRun = true;
         else throw UsageError(format("unknown flag `%1%'") % *i);
 
-    LocalStore * store2(dynamic_cast<LocalStore *>(store.get()));
-    if (!store2) throw Error("you don't have sufficient rights to use --optimise");
-
     OptimiseStats stats;
     try {
-        store2->optimiseStore(dryRun, stats);
+        ensureLocalStore().optimiseStore(dryRun, stats);
     } catch (...) {
         showOptimiseStats(stats);
         throw;
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ void run(Strings args)
     if (!op) throw UsageError("no operation specified");
 
     if (op != opDump && op != opRestore) /* !!! hack */
-        store = openStore(op != opGC);
+        store = openStore();
 
     op(opFlags, opArgs);
 }
diff --git a/src/nix-worker/nix-worker.cc b/src/nix-worker/nix-worker.cc
index d9b75270f843..134e1a693380 100644
--- a/src/nix-worker/nix-worker.cc
+++ b/src/nix-worker/nix-worker.cc
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ static void processConnection()
 #endif
 
         /* Open the store. */
-        store = boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI>(new LocalStore(true));
+        store = boost::shared_ptr<StoreAPI>(new LocalStore());
 
         stopWork();
         
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index bab9e8ee4771..c65f68584663 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ TESTS = init.sh hash.sh lang.sh add.sh simple.sh dependencies.sh \
   fallback.sh nix-push.sh gc.sh gc-concurrent.sh verify.sh nix-pull.sh \
   referrers.sh user-envs.sh logging.sh nix-build.sh misc.sh fixed.sh \
   gc-runtime.sh install-package.sh check-refs.sh filter-source.sh \
-  remote-store.sh
+  remote-store.sh export.sh
 
 XFAIL_TESTS =
 
diff --git a/tests/dependencies.sh b/tests/dependencies.sh
index 434027e461fe..440b6fae0c68 100644
--- a/tests/dependencies.sh
+++ b/tests/dependencies.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ $nixstore -q --graph "$drvPath" > $TEST_ROOT/graph
 if test -n "$dot"; then
     # Does it parse?
     $dot < $TEST_ROOT/graph
-fi    
+fi
 
 outPath=$($nixstore -rvv "$drvPath")
 
diff --git a/tests/export.sh b/tests/export.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..53c9ec3c68df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/export.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+source common.sh
+
+clearStore
+
+outPath=$($nixstore -r $($nixinstantiate dependencies.nix))
+
+$nixstore --export $outPath > $TEST_ROOT/exp
+
+$nixstore --export $($nixstore -qR $outPath) > $TEST_ROOT/exp_all
+
+
+clearStore
+
+if $nixstore --import < $TEST_ROOT/exp; then
+    echo "importing a non-closure should fail"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+
+clearStore
+
+$nixstore --import < $TEST_ROOT/exp_all
+
+$nixstore --export $($nixstore -qR $outPath) > $TEST_ROOT/exp_all2
+
+
+clearStore
+
+# Regression test: the derivers in exp_all2 are empty, which shouldn't
+# cause a failure.
+$nixstore --import < $TEST_ROOT/exp_all2
diff --git a/tests/init.sh b/tests/init.sh
index 2713aa590b9f..7becc422e373 100644
--- a/tests/init.sh
+++ b/tests/init.sh
@@ -95,4 +95,5 @@ chmod +x $NIX_BIN_DIR/nix/download-using-manifests.pl
 $nixstore --init
 
 # Did anything happen?
-test -e "$NIX_DB_DIR"/validpaths
+test -e "$NIX_DB_DIR"/info
+test -e "$NIX_DB_DIR"/referrer
diff --git a/tests/referrers.sh b/tests/referrers.sh
index 4d2aaab5a2b8..2fdf0cf7c47e 100644
--- a/tests/referrers.sh
+++ b/tests/referrers.sh
@@ -9,12 +9,50 @@ reference=$NIX_STORE_DIR/abcdef
 touch $reference
 (echo $reference && echo && echo 0) | $nixstore --register-validity 
 
-echo "registering..."
-time for ((n = 0; n < $max; n++)); do
+echo "making registration..."
+
+for ((n = 0; n < $max; n++)); do
     storePath=$NIX_STORE_DIR/$n
     touch $storePath
-    (echo $storePath && echo && echo 1 && echo $reference)
-done | $nixstore --register-validity 
+    ref2=$NIX_STORE_DIR/$((n+1))
+    if test $((n+1)) = $max; then
+        ref2=$reference
+    fi
+    (echo $storePath && echo && echo 2 && echo $reference && echo $ref2)
+done > $TEST_ROOT/reg_info
+
+echo "registering..."
+
+time $nixstore --register-validity < $TEST_ROOT/reg_info
+
+oldTime=$(cat test-tmp/db/info/1 | grep Registered-At)
+
+echo "sleeping..."
+
+sleep 2
+
+echo "reregistering..."
+
+time $nixstore --register-validity --reregister < $TEST_ROOT/reg_info
+
+newTime=$(cat test-tmp/db/info/1 | grep Registered-At)
+
+if test "$newTime" != "$oldTime"; then
+    echo "reregistration changed original registration time"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if test "$(cat test-tmp/db/referrer/1 | wc -w)" != 1; then
+    echo "reregistration duplicated referrers"
+    exit 1
+fi
 
 echo "collecting garbage..."
-time $nixstore --gc 2> /dev/null
+ln -sfn $reference "$NIX_STATE_DIR"/gcroots/ref
+time $nixstore --gc
+
+if test "$(cat test-tmp/db/referrer/abcdef | wc -w)" != 0; then
+    echo "referrers not cleaned up"
+    exit 1
+fi
+