Exploring Disk Space with Diskonaut (with examples)

Diskonaut is a nifty terminal-based disk space navigator written in Rust. It allows users to visualize disk usage in a tree-like view, making it easier to identify large files and directories on a system. Whether aiming to free up disk space or simply getting an overview of file sizes, Diskonaut provides an intuitive and efficient method to navigate and manage your filesystem directly from the terminal. More information and detailed documentation can be found on its GitHub repository .

Use Case 1: Start Diskonaut in the Current Directory

Code:

diskonaut

Motivation:
Running Diskonaut in the current directory is the simplest way to quickly analyze which files and subdirectories are taking up space. This can be particularly useful when you need a fast overview of your current working directory without having to provide a specific path.

Explanation:
When you execute diskonaut without any additional arguments, the command runs in the current directory by default. It generates a visual representation of disk usage, making it easy to spot large files or folders.

Example Output:
Upon running this command, a graphical representation (in the form of a terminal-based interface) appears. You can navigate through files and directories, identifying their sizes and making informed decisions about potential deletions.

[Displaying disk space usage in the current directory]
Files:
  - /home/user/file1.txt: 2MB
  - /home/user/file2.log: 5MB
  - /home/user/folderA: 15MB
  ... 
(Total size: 22MB)

Use Case 2: Start Diskonaut in a Specific Directory

Code:

diskonaut path/to/directory

Motivation:
For projects or directories that aren’t within your current working directory, you might want to analyze the disk usage of a specific folder. This can be helpful when managing space for software projects, media files, or archive directories.

Explanation:
Here, path/to/directory is a placeholder for the directory you want to analyze. By specifying a path, Diskonaut uses this as its root directory for scanning and displaying disk usage.

Example Output:
Once executed, Diskonaut will visualize the specified directory, allowing you to navigate and comprehend the space occupation of each file and subdirectory within it.

[Displaying disk space usage in the specified directory]
Files:
  - /home/user/documents/notes.docx: 4MB
  - /home/user/documents/photos: 10MB
  ...
(Total size: 14MB)

Use Case 3: Show File Sizes Rather Than Their Block Usage on the Disk

Code:

diskonaut --apparent-size path/to/directory

Motivation:
Understanding actual file sizes, rather than the allocated disk block size, can provide a more accurate depiction of storage use. This is especially beneficial for gauging the true amount of data stored, without the overhead of file system block allocations.

Explanation:
The --apparent-size flag modifies the display to show the real size of files rather than the size they take up on the disk. This is particularly useful for sparse files or filesystems with large block sizes where the apparent size can be significantly different from the disk usage.

Example Output:
Running this option highlights discrepancies between file sizes and their storage footprint on the disk. It portrays a more precise measurement of the stored data.

[Apparent size vs. block usage]
Files:
  - /home/user/data.db: Apparent size: 10MB, Disk usage: 12MB
  - /home/user/logs.txt: Apparent size: 3MB, Disk usage: 3MB
  ...
(Total apparent size greater than disk usage)

Use Case 4: Disable Deletion Confirmation

Code:

diskonaut --disable-delete-confirmation

Motivation:
For advanced users who are confident in their deletions, disabling the confirmation prompt can speed up the process. This is ideal for batch deletions where prompts would otherwise slow down task completion.

Explanation:
The --disable-delete-confirmation flag removes the requirement for user confirmation when deleting files or directories through Diskonaut, making the deletion process more streamlined.

Example Output:
Under usual circumstances, a deletion action would prompt a confirmation. With this option, deletions occur immediately upon command.

[File deletion]
- Deleting /home/user/temp/cache.tmp
(Deletion executed without confirmation prompt)

Conclusion

Diskonaut offers a powerful and convenient method for examining and managing disk space via a terminal interface. Its various commands and options cater to different user needs, from basic space assessment in default directories to more advanced scenarios involving lack of confirmation for routine deletions. For both everyday users and system administrators, Diskonaut can significantly ease the task of disk management.