Periscope is an interactive, open-source command-line tool designed to help you regain control of your files by giving you “duplicate vision” over your local storage. Developed by Anish Athalye, it solves a major frustration of traditional file organizers: instead of forcing you to rely on clunky, automated batch-deletions, Periscope allows you to safely explore your directory tree and eliminate identical data manually without risking data loss.
You can find the project, installation files, and code documentation directly on the Periscope GitHub Repository. Key Concepts & How It Works
Traditional duplicate finders spit out a massive, unreadable list of matched files that are terrifying to delete. Periscope works backwards from this approach using a specific philosophy:
Command Mirroring: It builds a wrapper around the terminal environment you already know. You use your normal shell to navigate, but you use custom commands prefixed with psc to interact with duplicate-heavy spaces safely.
Safe-Fail Mechanism: The tool tracks the cryptographic hashes of your files. If you run a delete command via Periscope, it will physically prevent you from erasing a file unless it knows a flawless identical copy exists somewhere else on your drive.
Interactive Exploration: It preserves directory architecture. Rather than treating duplicates like random targets, you see exactly where the clutter lives (e.g., forgotten backup folders or repeated downloads). Step-by-Step Workflow to Master Your Data
To master your drive cleanup, you follow a basic four-step interactive loop: 1. Ingest and Scan your Drive
Before navigating, you must allow Periscope to index your system, index data hashes, and pinpoint overlaps. psc scan /path/to/your/storage Use code with caution. 2. Navigate with “Duplicate Vision”
Instead of your regular terminal listing (ls), use psc ls. This modified visual tool highlights duplicate files in real-time right inside your directory listings so you know what is safe to prune immediately. psc ls Use code with caution. 3. Trace File Origins
If you find a duplicated asset, you can query its “family tree” across the drive to see every single directory harboring that exact same file weight before acting. psc info filename.ext Use code with caution. 4. Safely Purge Clutter
When you are ready to delete a duplicate copy, use psc rm. If you make a mistake and target the only original copy of a file left on your drive, Periscope’s logic engine blocks the deletion from happening. psc rm filename.ext Use code with caution. Primary Benefits
Zero Data Loss: Built-in safeguards protect your original master files from accidental human error.
Reclaims Massive Drive Space: Ideal for local home servers, photography vaults, or bloated media drives where hundreds of gigabytes can easily be lost to forgotten, repeated directories.
No Learning Curve: If you are comfortable moving through directories via basic command line terminals, you already know how to use Periscope.
Periscope gives you “duplicate vision” to help you … – GitHub
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