How To List All Files in a Directory Tree in Linux

In the world of Linux, it’s often necessary to navigate through the file system’s directory tree and list all files therein. This article will guide you through several methods of achieving this, using both graphical user interfaces and command-line solutions.

Graphical User Interface Solutions

Nautilus

Nautilus, the default file manager for GNOME, provides an easy way to list all files in a directory tree. To do this, enable the ‘expand subfolders in list view’ option. Afterward, navigate to the desired directory and press the asterisk key (*) to expand one level of subdirectories. Each subsequent press of the asterisk key will expand the next level. This method provides a visual representation of the directory tree, making it easy to navigate through.

Krusader

Krusader, another file manager, offers a search feature that can list all files in a directory tree. To use this feature, open the search dialog (Ctrl + S), check off “search in subdirectories”, and click “Search”. Once the search is finished, you can process the results by dragging them to another panel or performing other actions.

Command-line Solutions

Using the tree Command

The tree command is a useful tool for listing files in a directory tree. To install it, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install tree

Once installed, use the command tree filepath to list the files in the specified directory and its subdirectories. Here, filepath is the path of the directory you want to list files for.

Using the ls -R Command

The ls command is a standard command for listing files in Linux and Unix systems. The -R flag (recursive) allows you to list all files in the current directory and its subdirectories. For example, running ls -R will display all the files in the current directory and its subdirectories.

Using the find Command

The find command is a powerful tool for searching files in a directory tree. Use the command below to list files with their modification times, sizes, and full paths:

find /path/ -printf "%TY-%Tm-%Td\t%s\t%p\n"

Here, /path/ is the path of the directory you want to list files for. The printf formatting options allow you to customize the output format. For better readability, you can pipe the output through the column command to align the columns.

Using the ls -alR Command

This command combines the ls command with the -alR flags to list all files in the current directory and its subdirectories, including hidden files and directories. The -l flag provides detailed information such as file permissions, size, and modification time.

ls -alR

Using Directory Snapshot

For a more comprehensive solution, consider using the “Directory Snapshot” program. This program recursively iterates through a directory and stores the names and sizes of all the files and folders it encounters in neatly-structured HTML files. You can find the program on GitHub and follow the installation instructions provided.

Conclusion

Listing all files in a directory tree in Linux can be achieved in various ways, depending on your preference for a graphical user interface or command-line solution. Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences. Whether you’re using Nautilus, Krusader, or the command line, Linux offers flexible solutions for navigating and listing files in a directory tree.