DUDE (DUplicates DEtector)
DUDE (DUplicates DEtector) is a free desktop utility for finding duplicate files on Linux and Windows.
What DUDE (DUplicates DEtector) is
DUDE (DUplicates DEtector) is a free desktop utility for finding duplicate files on Linux and Windows. It scans up to eight designated folders, with an optional Cross paths view, and compares file content using SHA1 hashes. Because matching is based on content, filenames and extensions do not need to match. Version 2.x also offers image-similarity detection, including rotated images, with caching and sensitivity settings. Image and text preview windows help review potential matches, while regular-expression and glob-expression syntax support filtering. Once files are marked, users can move them to Trash or the Recycle Bin, delete them, create hard or soft links, or make Windows .lnk shortcuts. Scanning and marking leave the filesystem unchanged; deletion or linking requires confirmation and is logged. Before processing, DUDE checks files against stored scan data and stops if it finds an inconsistency. Command-line options can start scans, produce CSV reports, or integrate with a file manager. Portable Linux and Windows packages are available. The project uses the MIT license.
Good
- Scans up to eight designated folders.
- Matches file contents despite different names or extensions.
- Detects similar and rotated images in version 2.x.
- Previews images and text files.
- Confirms and logs deletion or linking actions.
Watch out
- Hard-linked files are ignored during scanning.
- Hard-linked files cannot be processed as duplicates.
- Available platforms are Linux and Windows.
Who it suits
DUDE suits Linux and Windows users who want to locate duplicate files across selected folders and review matches before acting. It may also suit people who want image-similarity matching or file-manager and command-line options.
Verdict
DUDE offers several ways to identify and review duplicates, with confirmation and integrity checks before file actions. Its key limitation is that hard-linked files are not handled as duplicates.
The facts
Each one read from DUDE (DUplicates DEtector)'s own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Changed-file check
- Before processing files, DUDE compares their state with stored data and aborts the action if it detects an inconsistency.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Command line
- Command-line parameters can start scans, generate CSV reports, and integrate DUDE with a user's file manager.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Portable executable packages are available for Linux and Windows, with separate PyInstaller and Nuitka builds.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Duplicate detection
- It compares files using content hashes, so different filenames or extensions do not prevent duplicates from matching.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Duplicate matching
- It compares file content hashes, so different filenames or extensions do not affect duplicate results.checked 8 Oct 2026
- File actions
- Users can move marked files to Trash or Recycle Bin, delete them, create hard or soft links, or create Windows .lnk shortcuts.checked 8 Oct 2026
- File manager integration
- Optional command-line parameters can start scans immediately or integrate DUDE with a file manager.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- The app supports regular-expression and glob-expression syntax.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Folder scanning
- It can scan up to eight designated folders and optionally display results in Cross paths mode.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Image and text tools
- Version 2.x adds image similarity detection, including rotated images, and preview windows for images and text files.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Image similarity
- Version 2.x includes image similarity detection with caching, sensitivity settings, and rotated-image detection.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrity check
- Before processing files, DUDE compares their current state with stored scan data and aborts the action if it finds an inconsistency.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the MIT license.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- Hard links are currently ignored during scanning and cannot be processed as duplicates.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Hard-linked files are currently ignored during scanning and cannot be processed as duplicates.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- DUDE is a cross-platform GUI utility for finding duplicate files so users can delete or link them to save space.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Safety
- Scanning and marking do not change the filesystem; file deletion or linking requires confirmation and is logged.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Safety behavior
- Scanning and marking do not change the filesystem; file deletion or linking requires confirmation and is logged.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Scan paths
- A scan can include up to eight designated folders, with an optional Cross paths display mode.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support policy
- The repository links to a security policy, but its README does not state a customer-support offering.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms and downloads
- Portable executable packages are available for Linux and Windows, including Windows 10 and 11.checked 8 Oct 2026
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