Is there a way to have the system automatically compress the files in certain directories in order to save space? Pretty much the same thing as compressed folders in Windows, where the files are still accessible and modifiable, only that they are compressed automatically by the OS (i.e. to the end user it looks the same, but in the background the files are actually compressed)
you need separate filesystem. note that filesystem can be regular file on different filesystem it must not be a hardware device... so you create an empty file of some size (using dd utility f.e.) and then format this file as compressed filesystem, than you mount this file as regular directory somwhere in system file tree... it is all in theory I cannot give you details (commands or manuals) since I don't remember I think cloop is good idea
Compress contents of directory?
it must not be a hardware device... so you create an empty file of some size (using dd utility f.e.) and then format this file as compressed filesystem, than you mount this file as regular directory somwhere in system file tree... it is all in theory I cannot give you details (commands or manuals) since I don't remember 
Linear Mode
