Detect duplicates with fdupes
Double Trouble
The command-line fdupes tool helps you find duplicate folders and directories.
Hard disks have the unpleasant tendency of filling up faster than expected. It is not always immediately obvious why. Keeping things tidy should not be underestimated in this context. Untidy, poorly organized hard disks tend to fill up faster than well-organized ones. Because life is a mixture of order and chaos, most users probably face this problem.
The unexpectedly high utilization level of hard disks is often caused by duplicate files. The typical candidates are photos, music, or videos, which can quickly occupy several gigabytes of space and are often difficult to find. There are several graphical applications on Linux to help you detect and remove duplicates like this, and there are several more for the command line.
GUI or CLI?
Well-known tools with a graphical interface for a cleanup include FSlint and dupeGuru. In this article, I will look at fdupes for the command line [1], first released in 2000. Most distributions include the tool, which weighs in at just over 100KB, in the archives; you can install using your distribution's choice of package manager. Listing 1 shows a guide for Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.