growisofs

growisofs [options] dev=path [file| directory...]

-Z spec
    Burn mode: spec is ISO path or =directory for mkisofs integration

-z
    Incremental backup mode (Track-At-Once, append to session)

-dry-run
    Simulate burn without writing

-dvd-compat
    Close/ finalize disc for DVD player compatibility

-speed=N
    Set write speed (e.g., 8)

-blank[=force|full]
    Blank rewritable disc (force ignores errors, full for complete erase)

-overburn
    Allow burning beyond disc capacity

-r
    Rock Ridge extensions (POSIX attributes)

-R
    Deep Rock Ridge (transplant symlinks)

-J
    Joliet extensions (long filenames)

-pad
    Pad last track to 300KiB

-no-pad
    Disable padding

-sort
    Sort directory entries

-volid=ID
    Set volume ID

-publisher=PUB
    Publisher description

-A APP
    Application ID

-p PREP
    Preparer ID

-iso-level=1|2|3|4
    ISO9660 level (1-4)

-udf
    Add UDF file system

-rock
    Enable Rock Ridge

-boot-image=file
    El Torito boot image

-boot-load-size=N
    Boot load size in sectors

-no-emul-boot
    No emulation for boot image

-eltorito-alt-boot
    Alternate El Torito boot

-hfs
    Create HFS hybrid

-print-size
    Print image size in blocks

growisofs is a versatile command-line utility from the dvd+rw-tools package for burning ISO 9660 file systems (with extensions like Joliet, Rock Ridge, and UDF) to optical media including DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW/+R(DL), BD-RE/R, and CD-RW. It excels at both one-time burns of complete ISO images or directories and incremental multi-session writing on rewritable media, enabling data appends without full reformatting.

Unlike traditional tools, it integrates mkisofs-like functionality, allowing direct burning from directory trees with options for volume labels, boot images, HFS hybrids, sorting, padding, and more. Supports recording modes like GrowISofs (packet), DAO, and TAO; DVD compatibility closures; overburning; and blanking. Ideal for backups, data discs, and bootable media. Requires device write access (typically root) and works best with ATAPI/SCSI drives via libburn or cdrkit backends in modern Linux.

Usage simplifies workflows: no separate ISO creation needed for directory burns. Check media with companion tools first.

Requires root for /dev access; media/drive compatibility varies—use dvd+rw-mediainfo first; no BD-R support (write-once RE/R only); errors on faulty media; multi-session limits on +R.

growisofs -dvd-compat -Z /dev/sr0=/path/to/image.iso
growisofs -Z /dev/sr0=/backup/dir -r -J -volid "MyBackup"
growisofs -z -Z /dev/sr0=/new/files -dvd-compat (append)

Run dvd+rw-mediainfo /dev/sr0 before burning; format overwritables with dvd+rw-format if needed.

Developed by Andy Polyakov circa 2001 as part of dvd+rw-tools to pioneer DVD+RW support in Linux, predating widespread kernel mmc subsystem; evolved for +R, DL, Blu-ray; maintained sporadically, now often via cdrtools forks or libburn.

dvd+rw-mediainfo(1), dvd+rw-format(1), mkisofs(8), genisoimage(1), cdrecord(1), wodim(1)