agedu

agedu is a free, MIT-licensed Unix utility for finding where substantial disk use coincides with old access times. It suits Linux users who are comfortable reviewing reports and making their own retention decisions. The result is a focused cleanup investigation tool, not an automatic disk janitor.

Overview

agedu scans a directory tree and correlates file size with the time files were last accessed. That combination helps separate merely large data from large data that may no longer be in regular use. It produces text and HTML reports, and its miniature web server can present a navigable HTML report in a browser.

This approach is valuable when storage pressure calls for prioritising what to inspect. It does not establish that any item is safe to remove, so organisations with retention obligations or poorly documented data need a human review before deletion. The MIT licence permits copying, redistribution, use and reuse without a paid tier.

Key features

• Age-filtered text reports: A chosen threshold, such as six months, limits output to files not accessed within that period. This is practical for a targeted review, although access time alone is not proof that data is obsolete.
• Colour-coded HTML: The report runs from red for disused data to green for recently accessed data, making relative age quick to scan. There is no treemap, application-size view or file-type breakdown, so users wanting broad visual categorisation should choose a fuller disk analyser.
• Controlled scan scope: Scans can cross filesystem boundaries and include, exclude or prune files and directories. Those controls make it possible to focus on relevant trees instead of treating an entire system as one undifferentiated scan.
• Portable indexes: Results can be dumped as text on one machine and loaded into an index on another, including across different CPU architectures. This helps when collection and analysis happen on separate Unix systems.
• Report serving and security: Index files use restrictive permissions because they can expose confidential filesystem information. The built-in server uses Linux user checks or HTTP Basic authentication with an invented password when those checks are unavailable; CGI mode has no access control, leaving protection to the web server.

Pricing

agedu — free: The free plan is the complete MIT-licensed Unix utility, with a source archive available. There is no free trial because the software is already free, and no paid upgrade or seat quota is stated. It is the natural choice for individuals and teams willing to operate a Unix utility themselves; readers seeking vendor-backed commercial packaging should look elsewhere.

Platforms

agedu runs on Linux and presents HTML reports in a web browser. It has no native Windows port. A separate Windows scan utility can create a dump for loading into agedu on a Unix machine, which offers a workaround for mixed environments but not a Windows-native agedu experience.

Who it's for

Choose agedu when you need to find large, potentially neglected files in Linux directory trees and can interpret text or HTML output. Administrators who need selective scans, portable results or a browser-based report will benefit most. It is a poor fit for users expecting automatic deletion decisions, treemaps, application or file-type summaries, or a polished native Windows application. Anyone exposing reports through CGI must provide the missing access controls at the web-server layer.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Combines disk usage with last-access age, giving cleanup reviews a useful prioritisation signal.
• Text and navigable HTML reports support both scripted workflows and browser-based investigation.
• Include, exclude, prune and cross-filesystem options adapt scans to complex directory layouts.
• MIT licensing and portable dump files suit reuse across Unix systems without licensing cost.

Cons

• It cannot determine whether a candidate is safe to delete, so every cleanup action requires informed judgement.
• No treemap, application-size or file-type views limits its value as a general-purpose visual analyser.
• No native Windows port means Windows users need a separate scan utility and a Unix host for loading results.
• CGI mode performs no access control, creating an avoidable exposure risk unless the surrounding web server is configured correctly.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of choices, see Disk Space Analyzers, or browse SSH Clients and Terminal Emulators for remote-access tools.

• electerm is the better pick when you need a free, MIT-licensed terminal and file manager across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows, with SSH, SFTP, FTP, Telnet, Serial, RDP, VNC and Spice.
• Termius suits users wanting a cross-platform SSH/SFTP client with a free Starter tier and a Pro plan at $10 a month when billed annually, including AI-powered autocomplete and port forwarding.
• Royal TS is preferable for connection management across desktop and mobile platforms, with a free Lite tier capped at 10 connections, 10 credentials and one document.
• XPipe is an option for Linux, macOS and Windows users seeking an open-core approach with a free Community plan.
• Tabby is a free FOSS terminal emulator for Linux, macOS and Windows.
• Bast is a free SSH host manager with cloud host sync and SSH/SFTP features.
• OpenSSH is the choice for a free SSH protocol suite on Linux, macOS, self-hosted and Windows under a BSD-style licence.
• WindTerm provides free commercial and non-commercial use on Linux, macOS and Windows, with source code partially open.

Verdict

agedu is a strong choice for Linux administrators who need an inexpensive, scriptable way to connect storage consumption with stale access times. Its focused reports and flexible scans reveal promising places to investigate without pretending to make deletion decisions. Look elsewhere if you need native Windows operation, rich visual breakdowns or software that manages cleanup and access control for you.