dua

Analyze specific directory

$ dua [path/to/directory]

$ dua --apparent-size

$ dua --count-hard-links

$ dua aggregate

$ dua interactive

$ dua --format [metric|binary|bytes|GB|GiB|MB|MiB]

$ dua --threads [count]

dua [OPTIONS] [PATH]

-a, --all
    Show all files and directories.

-h, --human-readable
    Print sizes in human-readable format (e.g., 1K 234M 2G).

-d, --depth=
    Limit the depth of the directory tree to display.

-e, --exclude
    Exclude files or directories that match the pattern.

-f, --file
    Read directory list from FILE.

-s, --summarize
    Display only the total size of each argument.

-t, --threshold
    Report only directories bigger than SIZE.

-v, --version
    Print version information.

-j, --json
    Output results in JSON format.

--no-colors
    Disable colored output.

--reverse
    Reverse the sort order (smallest first).

--help
    Show help message and exit.

The dua command provides a visual and interactive way to analyze disk space usage. Unlike the standard `du` command, dua offers a more user-friendly interface, making it easier to identify large files and directories that contribute most to disk space consumption. It presents a hierarchical display of directories and files, allowing users to drill down into specific areas to pinpoint space hogs. dua is particularly useful for cleaning up disk space as it aids in quick identification of files suitable for deletion. It can be used in both interactive and non-interactive modes. dua presents the information by default in the terminal, although it can output JSON or other formats. It typically displays the sizes in a human-readable format. The tool supports various filtering options, such as excluding specific file types or directories, making the analysis more focused and efficient.

dua relies on accurate file system information. If the file system is changing while dua is running, the results might be inconsistent. Be careful when analyzing large filesystems as it can be computationally expensive and memory intensive.

In interactive mode, dua presents a navigable tree structure in the terminal.
You can use the arrow keys to drill down into directories and identify the largest files.
Pressing 'd' typically marks a file or directory for deletion (though actual deletion requires additional steps, as dua by itself usually does not handle deletion).
The `Enter` key allows navigation into directories.

When used with options like `--json`, dua can be incorporated into scripts and automated workflows. This is useful for generating reports or triggering actions based on disk usage patterns.
Example: dua -j /path/to/directory.

dua is a relatively recent tool designed to provide a more interactive and visually appealing alternative to traditional disk usage utilities. Its development has been driven by the need for improved ease of use and efficiency in disk space management. The tool is actively maintained, with ongoing improvements to performance and features.

du(1), ncdu(1), df(1)