Check how space is distributed on a Linux system

I know how to check space left with:

df -h

and I know to check the space of a folder with:

du -ch /path/to/folder/

But let's say I have a 500 GB HardDisk and 350GB are used:

  • Wich is the best tool/command to get how the space is distributed ?

  • Should I do du -ch / ? (I think this is not optimal)

  • There is any special tool/app to do this ?

I'd like an app that stores how the space is distributed in my system, wich are the space occuped in each folder...

I'd like to have something like SpaceSniffer (You can check the windows tool here). It is a Windows program that examine your HardDisk and show in a easy & nice IU how the space is distributed on your computer

This kind of software is awesome for that day you check your HardDisk and it seems you've "lost" hundred of GB's and don't know where they are !


Edit

  • I've tried baobab and runs/works perfectly in my Ubuntu machine, I tested also JDiskReport, here I have to fix some issues but it works in Ubuntu & Windows

  • I assume JDiskReport will work in any  OS with Java installed, that's why I choose as correct answer. I've tried this in Ubuntu, Windows 8, Raspbian and CentOS and works in all of them (you have to install Java)

  • I have to say for those lovers of command-line your choice should be ncdu, it's awesome !!!

Baobab IU:

This is the baobab IU


One nice Gnome application is baobab. It comes with default ubuntu installation.

enter image description here

To get it,

sudo apt-get install baobab

apt-cache show baobab

Description-en: GNOME disk usage analyzer
 Disk Usage Analyzer is a graphical, menu-driven application to analyse
 disk usage in a GNOME environment. It can easily scan either the whole
 filesystem tree, or a specific user-requested directory branch (local or
 remote).
 .
 It also auto-detects in real-time any changes made to your home
 directory as far as any mounted/unmounted device. Disk Usage Analyzer
 also provides a full graphical treemap window for each selected folder.

ncdu

If you use the command line, you could use ncdu. It uses a command-line GUI (ncurses).

Installation

sudo apt-get install ncdu

Description

From its webpage:

[...] ncdu: A disk usage analyzer with an ncurses interface, aimed to be run on a remote server where you don't have an entire gaphical setup, but have to do with a simple SSH connection. ncdu aims to be fast, simple and easy to use, and should be able to run in any minimal POSIX-like environment with ncurses installed.

Screenshot

Screenshot from the ncdu webpage

Example

Check out the disk usage of your home directory:

ncdu ~

You can enter subdirectories and delete files / whole folders from within the tool.


Another very useful app for this is:

JDiskReport

Is very similar to windows SpaceSniffer and has a very useful and intuitive IU.

You need Java to use it but it can run in every OS with Java

The user interface:

JDiskReport example in linux

Hope it helps !