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gdu is a Go-based disk usage analyzer that helps you find which files and directories are using space. It can scan interactively in a terminal, produce non-interactive summaries for scripts, export or import JSON, and optionally show a browser interface. It is primarily designed for SSDs, according to its project documentation; HDDs are supported, but the stated performance benefit is less pronounced.
Choose the gdu mode that fits the task
By default, gdu opens its interactive terminal interface when it detects a TTY. If its output is piped or otherwise is not a TTY, it automatically switches to non-interactive mode. Use --interactive to force the interactive UI, or -n to explicitly request non-interactive output. The project documents these modes and examples in its README.
| Mode | Best suited to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive terminal | Exploring a directory tree and inspecting large entries by hand | gdu /some/dir |
| Non-interactive | Summaries, scripts, or output redirection | gdu -n / |
| JSON export/import | Saving machine-readable scan data or reading it back later | gdu -o- / | gzip -c >report.json.gz |
| Browser UI | Viewing a scan in a browser when the exposure implications are acceptable | gdu --web /some/dir |
Install gdu
The official installation instructions list package-manager and Go-based routes, including Arch Linux, Debian, Ubuntu via the Daniel Milde PPA, NixOS, Homebrew, Conda Forge, Mise, Snap, Binenv, and Go install. Exact package availability and commands vary by platform and can change, so use the project’s installation instructions for the current steps. Homebrew installs the executable as gdu-go to avoid a name conflict; Snap installation may require the additional connections and alias described by the project.
The official release page identifies v5.37.0. Check it for the latest version rather than assuming that release remains current.
#1 Best Overall
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Scan directories and find large items
Run gdu with a directory path to inspect that tree. These documented examples cover common tasks:
gdu -n /produces statistics for the root directory without the interactive screen.gdu -ps /some/dirprints a total for the specified directory.gdu -t 10 /displays the ten largest files.gdu / > fileredirects output to a file.
In non-interactive mode, if neither --top nor --depth is set, the project says gdu uses an analyzer that tracks top-level directory totals to keep memory use constant with the size of the scanned tree. That behavior is a project description, not a guarantee about runtime or memory use for every workload.
Rank #2
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Export, import, and store scan data
For a compressed JSON export, the documented pattern is gdu -o- / | gzip -c >report.json.gz. To import that file, use zcat report.json.gz | gdu -f-. The project also documents persistent storage using SQLite or BadgerDB. JSON export and database storage accept a single directory, so plan separate runs when you need to handle multiple directory roots.
Exported JSON keeps raw byte values. This makes it suitable for downstream processing without relying on a formatted size string intended for terminal display.
Rank #3
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Use the optional browser interface carefully
Security warning: gdu’s browser interface is read-only but unauthenticated. It reveals filenames and sizes over HTTP to clients that can reach the server. Keep the default localhost binding unless you deliberately intend to expose those details to other hosts on the network.
Start the interface with gdu --web /some/dir. By default, the server binds to localhost and selects a random available port. The browser view includes a sortable list, size bars, breadcrumbs, an animated donut chart, a treemap, and a toggle between disk usage and apparent size. The project says the web assets are embedded in the executable, so loading the interface does not require separate asset files or network access to fetch them.
Rank #4
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Binding to a non-loopback address makes the service reachable from other hosts on the network. Do so only when that access is intended and appropriate for the data being scanned; the interface does not provide authentication.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Understand what the size figures mean
- Disk usage and apparent size differ. The interface can switch between them; do not treat one as interchangeable with the other.
- Hard links are counted once. A file with multiple hard links is not counted as separate data at each linked path.
- Terminal size formatting may depend on environment.
BLOCK_SIZEtakes precedence overBLOCKSIZEin terminal output.
What to expect from performance
The project describes gdu as primarily intended for SSDs because it can make full use of parallel processing. HDDs are supported, but the project says the performance gain is less pronounced. This is not an independent speed comparison, and there is no defensible universal speed ratio to apply to a particular system or scan.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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