Are you tired of multiple copies of similar backups taking up valuable storage space? Look no further! The “Duplicates” tool is here to help you identify duplicate files and replace them with hardlinks, regardless of your operating system.
The “Duplicates” tool, developed by MusicalNinjaRandInt, is a powerful solution designed to reduce storage space by identifying and linking duplicate files. This tool is particularly useful for managing large amounts of data, such as regular Google Takeouts. By replacing duplicate files with hardlinks, you can save significant storage space without compromising file integrity.
To use the “Duplicates” tool, you have two options: command line or Python. In the command line, you can use the dupes command to scan a directory and display the number of duplicate files found. You can also list the full sets of duplicate files or replace the duplicates with hard links. For more flexibility, you can utilize the DuplicateFiles class from the Python package. This class allows you to programmatically identify and link duplicates based on your specific requirements.
When using the “Duplicates” tool, it is essential to exercise caution. Hardlinking files means that any changes made to one “copy” will affect all linked copies. This feature ensures file consistency but requires careful management to avoid unintended modifications.
Furthermore, be aware that if there are existing hardlinks outside of the directories scanned, there may be inconsistencies in the linking process. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the impact of hardlinking and consider the situation as undefined in such cases.
In the future, the “Duplicates” tool has several exciting enhancements planned. Issues such as preserving the original file mode after hardlinking, selecting the leading inode for linking, and improving exception handling from the command line are currently in development. MusicalNinjaRandInt encourages users to vote on these issues, ensuring that the tool continues to evolve according to your needs.
To get started with the “Duplicates” tool, please refer to the official documentation and follow the installation and usage instructions. The documentation provides comprehensive guidance on how to set up the development environment and organize your code. Adherence to coding standards and robust testing strategies are strongly recommended to ensure the tool’s reliability and maintainability.
Ultimately, the “Duplicates” tool offers an efficient solution for managing duplicate files and reducing storage space. By implementing this tool, you can optimize data storage, increase efficiency, and enhance file management. Give it a try and enjoy a clutter-free digital environment.
References
Repository: MusicalNinjaRandInt/duplicates
Documentation: Duplicates Documentation
License: MIT License
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