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Easy question - Comparing files/folders in linux (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 15 hours ago by to c/linux@lemmy.world
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So I have a problem. I have WAY too many hard drives and backups from decades of computing. I just hoard everything. The issue is now I don't know what I have duplicates of and what I don't. or when I want to format an old external drive for something else, I'm not sure if I actually have a backup of it.

I just want a way to basically compare folders and see what files are missing or what are duplicates. I'm fine with CLI but I may prefer a GUI for this so I'm not deleting files by accident as easily...

I have searched around for this question but all the solutions seem way too complex for me.

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[–] 13 points 14 hours ago (1 child)

Easy question, hard answer.

If you want the easy answer: one new folder, look through everything you want to keep, and copy it to the new folder. Then delete the rest.

For a quick deuplication, fdupes will find exact duplicates. Read the man page, because there's a cache option you probably want to use.

If there are inexact duplicates, like photos or videos, use tools like czkawka.

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  • [–] 7 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

    +1 for czkawka, it was the only thing that worked for my lazy brain. It also works for exact duplicates.

    No matter the method though, the way OP describes it it's still going to be a slog. At least it was for me when I was in a similar situation.

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