file · Command reference

`qzx findDuplicateFiles`

What it does

Scans a directory for identical files using size, SHA-256, and byte-for-byte verification

Command maturity: Alpha

Available for real use and feedback while its interface and behavior can still evolve. This is the current development-checkout assessment. Every future immutable release tag preserves the exact assessment shipped by that version. Available in PyPI 0.2.2.0.15. This page documents the 0.2.2.0.15 alpha development checkout.

Behavior and built-in protections

Inspects without changing state

Direct execution for this operation

Works without invoking native programs

Works without network access

No elevation required by design

This safety classification was reviewed by Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic) against implementation digest sha256:4c4b78a7f22f5c242c15d31925dd300f8ca6f625ee7bce804626865e38bd9047 on 2026-10-08.

Exact syntax

qzx findDuplicateFiles [scan_path] [min_size_kb] [max_depth] --json

Parameters

Swipe or use the horizontal scrollbar to see every column.

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
scan_path	str	No	"."	Path to start searching for duplicate files (defaults to current directory)
min_size_kb	str	No	"10"	Minimum file size in KB to consider for duplicates (defaults to 10)
max_depth	str	No	"4"	Maximum depth level to walk directories recursively (defaults to 4)

Input examples

qzx findDuplicateFiles

Search for duplicates in the current directory (min 10KB)

qzx findDuplicateFiles C:/my-assets 0

Search for all duplicate files of any size inside C:/my-assets

For the complete structured payload, add --json: qzx findDuplicateFiles [scan_path] [min_size_kb] [max_depth] --json

Representative output example

This illustrative JSON is derived from the current implementation-backed result contract. It shows what the command can return without claiming a recorded execution; values vary with inputs, host, permissions, and optional tools.

Example command: qzx findDuplicateFiles --json

{
    "success": true,
    "message": "Scans a directory for identical files using size, SHA-256, and byte-for-byte verification. In this illustrative example, the command completed successfully.",
    "meta": {
        "command": "findDuplicateFiles",
        "command_maturity": {
            "stage": "alpha",
            "label": "Alpha",
            "sequence": 2,
            "public_executable": true,
            "stability": "interface_may_change",
            "summary": "Available for real use and feedback while its interface and behavior can still evolve.",
            "promotion_review_required": false,
            "assessment_scope": "development_checkout"
        },
        "duration_ms": 0,
        "schema_version": 1
    },
    "duplicate_groups": [
        {
            "name": "example",
            "status": "ok"
        }
    ],
    "hardlink_aliases": [
        {
            "name": "example",
            "status": "ok"
        }
    ],
    "partial": "Example value",
    "physical_reclaimable_bytes": null,
    "read_only": true,
    "reclaimable_bytes": 4096,
    "reclaimable_space_basis": "Example value",
    "reclaimable_space_readable": "4.00 KiB",
    "scan_complete": "Example value",
    "scan_path": "C:\\project\\example.txt",
    "scan_scope": {
        "max_depth": "Example value",
        "depth_inclusive": true,
        "min_size_bytes": 4096,
        "excluded_directories": [
            {
                "name": "example",
                "status": "ok"
            }
        ],
        "follow_directory_links": true,
        "hydrate_offline_files": true
    },
    "scan_statistics": [
        {
            "name": "example",
            "status": "ok"
        }
    ],
    "space_estimate_note": "Example value",
    "total_duplicate_files": 3,
    "total_groups": 3,
    "warning_count": 3,
    "warning_counts": [
        {
            "name": "example",
            "status": "ok"
        }
    ],
    "warning_sample_truncated": true,
    "warnings": [
        {
            "name": "example",
            "status": "ok"
        }
    ]
}

View the JSON result contract

{
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "required": [
        "success",
        "message",
        "meta"
    ],
    "properties": {
        "success": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
        "message": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "meta": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
                "command",
                "command_maturity",
                "duration_ms",
                "schema_version"
            ],
            "properties": {
                "command": {
                    "type": "string"
                },
                "command_maturity": {
                    "type": "object",
                    "required": [
                        "stage",
                        "label",
                        "sequence",
                        "public_executable",
                        "stability",
                        "summary",
                        "promotion_review_required",
                        "assessment_scope"
                    ],
                    "properties": {
                        "stage": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "label": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "sequence": {
                            "type": "integer"
                        },
                        "public_executable": {
                            "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "stability": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "summary": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "promotion_review_required": {
                            "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "assessment_scope": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "note": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "review": {
                            "type": "object",
                            "required": [
                                "reviewed_on",
                                "rationale",
                                "evidence"
                            ],
                            "properties": {
                                "reviewed_on": {
                                    "type": "string",
                                    "format": "date"
                                },
                                "rationale": {
                                    "type": "string"
                                },
                                "evidence": {
                                    "type": "array",
                                    "minItems": 1,
                                    "items": {
                                        "type": "string"
                                    }
                                },
                                "replacement": {
                                    "type": "string"
                                }
                            },
                            "additionalProperties": false
                        }
                    },
                    "additionalProperties": true
                },
                "duration_ms": {
                    "type": "number"
                },
                "schema_version": {
                    "type": "integer"
                }
            },
            "additionalProperties": true
        },
        "duplicate_groups": [],
        "error": [],
        "error_code": [],
        "hardlink_aliases": [],
        "partial": [],
        "physical_reclaimable_bytes": {
            "type": "null"
        },
        "read_only": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
        "reclaimable_bytes": [],
        "reclaimable_space_basis": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "reclaimable_space_readable": [],
        "scan_complete": [],
        "scan_path": [],
        "scan_scope": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
                "max_depth": [],
                "depth_inclusive": {
                    "type": "boolean"
                },
                "min_size_bytes": [],
                "excluded_directories": [],
                "follow_directory_links": {
                    "type": "boolean"
                },
                "hydrate_offline_files": {
                    "type": "boolean"
                }
            },
            "additionalProperties": true
        },
        "scan_statistics": [],
        "space_estimate_note": [],
        "total_duplicate_files": [],
        "total_groups": [],
        "warning_count": [],
        "warning_counts": [],
        "warning_sample_truncated": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
        "warnings": []
    },
    "additionalProperties": true
}

Errors and limits

The public contract requires success=false and a descriptive message on failure. This catalog does not yet declare a command-specific error taxonomy; inspect the result and do not invent error codes.

QZX is alpha software. Optional dependencies, permissions, and host capabilities can change the result.

Evidence workflow: ready for deterministic automated capture.

Evidence and provenance

Implementation: src/qzx/commands/file/find_duplicate_files.py
Tests: tests/test_file_commands/test_find_duplicate_files.py
Documentation channel: Development documentation 0.2.2.0.15 · main · sha256:b91acee86268edb7cb018a94e089ff8e95835eda3f2cf08b39796c0ab9654693
Availability: 0.2.2.0.15 or earlier

Practical guide

Learn when qzx findDuplicateFiles fits the task, how native operating-system tools compare, and which details matter in automation.

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