Ncdu: A Handy Disk Usage Analyzer with a Text Interface

When managing storage on your Linux systems, efficiently tracking your disk usage is vital. Visual tools like the graphical Disk Usage Analyzer (part of the GNOME desktop environment) are helpful, but what if you're managing a server via SSH, or prefer using the terminal? Enter ncdu (NCurses Disk Usage), a lightweight, text-based utility that provides a fast and easy-to-navigate interface to analyze disk usage. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes ncdu special, and provide detailed installation instructions across different Linux distributions.

Why Choose ncdu?

Disk space management might look straightforward — until you're sifting through gigabytes of data trying to figure out what's using up all your storage. ncdu offers several benefits:

Speed: ncdu scans your disk quicker than running a plain du command.
Interactivity: Navigate through directories in its text-based user interface to see storage usage.
Usability: Easy to use, even for those new to the command line.
Availability: ncdu can be installed on almost any Linux distribution.

Key Features of ncdu

Simple Navigation: Use arrow keys to navigate through directories.
Delete Files: You can directly delete files and directories from within ncdu, making disk cleanup efficient.
Sorting Options: Sort by name, size, or item count.
Export / Import: Scan results can be exported and later re-imported for analysis, saving time on rescans.

Installing ncdu

Installation of ncdu varies slightly depending on your Linux distribution. Below, we provide specific commands for popular package managers including apt for Debian-based systems, dnf for Fedora, and zypper for openSUSE.

Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives:

For systems using the apt package manager (like Debian and Ubuntu), use the following commands to update your package list and install ncdu:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ncdu

Fedora and derivatives:

If you're on Fedora or a similar system that uses dnf, you can install ncdu using:

sudo dnf install ncdu

openSUSE:

Users on openSUSE or SUSE Linux Enterprise can use the zypper package manager to install ncdu:

sudo zypper install ncdu

Using ncdu

After installation, using ncdu is straightforward. Simply type ncdu in your terminal. By default, it will scan the directory you're currently in. To scan a specific directory (for example, /home), you can run:

ncdu /home

Navigate through the scan results using the arrow keys. Additional commands are displayed at the bottom of the interface, allowing you to sort results, delete items, or rescan directories.

Conclusion

ncdu is a powerful tool that simplifies the task of tracking disk usage from the terminal. It’s perfect for server environments, users who prefer the command line, or those seeking a lightweight alternative to graphical applications. With easy installation and a user-friendly interface, ncdu helps keep your disk usage in check, ensuring that your Linux system runs smoothly.

Happy cleaning, and remember, regular monitoring of disk usage is a great habit to keep your system in optimal condition!

Feel free to explore ncdu and discover other functionalities it offers, such as tuning the scan with different flags and exporting scan data for reports. Whether you're a system administrator, a developer, or just a Linux enthusiast, ncdu is an excellent addition to your toolkit.