NAME¶

hardlink - Link multiple copies of a file

SYNOPSIS¶

hardlink [option]... [directory|file]...

DESCRIPTION¶

hardlink is a tool which replaces copies of a file with hardlinks, therefore saving space.

OPTIONS¶

-h or --help

print quick usage details to the screen.

-v or --verbose

More verbose output. If specified once, every hardlinked file is displayed, if specified twice, it also shows every comparison.

-n or --dry-run

Do not act, just print what would happen

-f or --respect-name

Only try to link files with the same (basename).

-p or --ignore-mode

Link/compare files even if their mode is different. This may be a bit unpredictable.

-o or --ignore-owner

Link/compare files even if their owner (user and group) is different. It is not predictable

-t or --ignore-time

Link/compare files even if their time of modification is different. This will retain the newest timestamp, unless -m or -M is given.

-m or --maximize

Try to maximize the link count of the files.

-M or --minimize

Try to minimize the link count of the files.

-x or --exclude

A regular expression which excludes files from being compared and linked.

-i or --include

A regular expression to include files. If the option --exclude has been given, this option re-includes files which would otherwise be excluded. If the option is used without --exclude, only files matched by the pattern are included.

 

ARGUMENTS¶

hardlink takes one or more directories which will be searched for files to be linked.

BUGS¶

hardlink assumes that the trees it operates on do not change during operation. If a tree does change, the result is undefined and potentially dangerous. For example, if a regular file is replaced by a device, hardlink may start reading from the device. If a component of a path is replaced by a symbolic link or file permissions change, security may be compromised. Do not run hardlink on a changing tree or on a tree controlled by another user.

AUTHOR¶

The program hardlink and this manpage have been written by Julian Andres Klode, and are licensed under the MIT license. See the code of hardlink for further information.