sahib/rmlint
FreeExtremely fast tool to remove duplicates and other lint from your filesystem
FreeFree tier
About sahib/rmlint
rmlint is a fast open-source tool that finds space waste and other broken things on a filesystem and offers to remove it. It can detect duplicate files and directories, nonstripped binaries (with debug symbols), broken symbolic links, empty files and directories, and files with broken user or group IDs. It is designed to be extremely fast, with a paranoia mode for those who do not trust hash sums, support for many output formats, non-interactive operation, mtime-based filtering, caching and replaying, and BTRFS support. It compiles and runs on Linux, FreeBSD, Darwin, and Solaris, with Linux as the primary target. Licensed under GPLv3.
Key Features
Finds duplicate files and duplicate directories
Detects nonstripped binaries (binaries with debug symbols)
Identifies broken symbolic links
Finds empty files and directories
Detects files with broken user or group ID
Extremely fast performance
Paranoia mode for hash verification
Many output formats
Non-interactive operation
Search by modification time (mtime)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely fast, as claimed and confirmed by benchmarks
- Paranoia mode ensures reliability even without trusting hash sums
- Supports many output formats for integration with other tools
- Non-interactive, suitable for scripting and automation
- Cross-platform support (Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Solaris)
- Free and open source (GPLv3)
- BTRFS integration for advanced filesystem features
- Caching and replay functionality for repeated scans
Cons
- Primarily command-line tool, no built-in graphical user interface
- Some optimizations are Linux-specific; performance may vary on other OSes
- Steep learning curve for the full set of command-line options
- Requires compilation from source if not available in package manager
Best For
Freeing disk space by removing duplicate filesCleaning filesystem of broken symbolic linksFinding and removing empty directoriesIdentifying nonstripped binaries to reduce storageDetecting files with incorrect ownershipDeduplication for backup management
FAQ
What does rmlint find?
rmlint finds duplicate files and directories, nonstripped binaries, broken symbolic links, empty files and directories, and files with broken user or group IDs.
How do I install rmlint?
rmlint may already be available as a package in your distribution. If not, you can compile it from source.
Is rmlint free?
Yes, rmlint is open source and licensed under GPLv3.
On which operating systems does rmlint run?
rmlint compiles and runs on Linux, FreeBSD, Darwin (macOS), and Solaris. Linux is the primary target.