6. Reduces Clutter: Identifies old files you probably don't need anymore
When a user requests file organization help:
Understand the Scope
Ask clarifying questions:
Analyze Current State
Review the target directory:
# Get overview of current structure
ls -la [target_directory]
# Check file types and sizes
find [target_directory] -type f -exec file {} \; | head -20
# Identify largest files
du -sh [target_directory]/* | sort -rh | head -20
# Count file types
find [target_directory] -type f | sed 's/.*\.//' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn
Summarize findings:
Identify Organization Patterns
Based on the files, determine logical groupings:
By Type:
By Purpose:
By Date:
Find Duplicates
When requested, search for duplicates:
# Find exact duplicates by hash
find [directory] -type f -exec md5 {} \; | sort | uniq -d
# Find files with similar names
find [directory] -type f -printf '%f\n' | sort | uniq -d
# Find similar-sized files
find [directory] -type f -printf '%s %p\n' | sort -n
For each set of duplicates:
Propose Organization Plan
Present a clear plan before making changes:
# Organization Plan for [Directory]
## Current State
- X files across Y folders
- [Size] total
- File types: [breakdown]
- Issues: [list problems]
## Proposed Structure
[Directory]/
├── Work/
│ ├── Projects/
│ ├── Documents/
│ └── Archive/
├── Personal/
│ ├── Photos/
│ ├── Documents/
│ └── Media/
└── Downloads/
├── To-Sort/
└── Archive/
## Changes I'll Make
1. **Create new folders**: [list]
2. **Move files**:
- X PDFs → Work/Documents/
- Y images → Personal/Photos/
- Z old files → Archive/
3. **Rename files**: [any renaming patterns]
4. **Delete**: [duplicates or trash files]
## Files Needing Your Decision
- [List any files you're unsure about]
Ready to proceed? (yes/no/modify)
Execute Organization
After approval, organize systematically:
# Create folder structure
mkdir -p "path/to/new/folders"
# Move files with clear logging
mv "old/path/file.pdf" "new/path/file.pdf"
# Rename files with consistent patterns
# Example: "YYYY-MM-DD - Description.ext"
Important Rules:
Provide Summary and Maintenance Tips
After organizing:
# Organization Complete! ✨
## What Changed
- Created [X] new folders
- Organized [Y] files
- Freed [Z] GB by removing duplicates
- Archived [W] old files
## New Structure
[Show the new folder tree]
## Maintenance Tips
To keep this organized:
1. **Weekly**: Sort new downloads
2. **Monthly**: Review and archive completed projects
3. **Quarterly**: Check for new duplicates
4. **Yearly**: Archive old files
## Quick Commands for You
# Find files modified this week
find . -type f -mtime -7
# Sort downloads by type
[custom command for their setup]
# Find duplicates
[custom command]
Want to organize another folder?