# dosfstools

> utility software to create, check and label file systems of the FAT family

**Wikidata**: [Q104978457](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104978457)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dosfstools

## Summary
dosfstools is free utility software designed to create, check, and label file systems of the FAT family (File Allocation Table). It operates on Unix-like operating systems and allows users to manage FAT partitions. The project is open-source and widely distributed across various Linux and BSD package repositories.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Utility software and free software.
- **Primary Function:** Creating, checking, and labeling FAT family file systems.
- **Platform:** Unix-like operating systems.
- **Latest Version:** 4.2 (released January 31, 2021).
- **Source Repository:** hosted at `https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools`.
- **License:** Licensed under Q27016754 (as per Wikidata/README).
- **Package Availability:** Available in repositories for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Gentoo (`sys-fs/dosfstools`), Arch Linux, openSUSE, and OpenBSD (`sysutils/dosfstools`), as well as Homebrew.
- **Other Versions:** Includes historical versions 3.0.27 (2014), 3.0.28 (2015), 4.0 (2016), and 4.1 (2017).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of dosfstools?
A: dosfstools allows users to create, check for errors, and apply labels to file systems belonging to the FAT family on Unix-like operating systems.

### Q: What is the most recent version of dosfstools?
A: The most recent version is 4.2, which was released on January 31, 2021.

### Q: On which operating systems does dosfstools run?
A: It runs on Unix-like operating systems, including various Linux distributions (like Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch) and BSD variants (like OpenBSD).

### Q: Where can the source code be found?
A: The source code is maintained in a Git repository hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools`.

## Why It Matters
dosfstools plays a critical role in the interoperability and maintenance of storage devices within Unix-like environments. Because the FAT file system family is a universal standard supported by virtually all operating systems and firmware interfaces (such as BIOS and UEFI), the ability to manipulate these file systems from a Linux or BSD command line is essential.

System administrators and users rely on dosfstools to format USB drives, SD cards, and EFI system partitions. Without these tools, creating bootable media or managing cross-platform data storage on Unix-like systems would be significantly more difficult. Its wide inclusion in major distribution repositories—such as Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux—highlights its status as a foundational system utility.

## Notable For
- **Ubiquity:** It is a standard package in nearly every major Unix-like distribution, including Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, Gentoo, and OpenBSD.
- **Specific Utility:** It focuses exclusively on the FAT family, providing specialized tools (`mkfs.fat`, `fsck.fat`) for this legacy yet ubiquitous file system.
- **Open Source Development:** The project is actively maintained as free software, with a transparent release history available on GitHub.
- **Cross-Platform Support:** While running on Unix-like systems, it manages file systems used by Windows, macOS, and embedded devices, bridging compatibility gaps.

## Body
### Functionality
dosfstools is a suite of utility software distributed as free software. Its core capability allows users to create FAT file systems, check their integrity (repairing errors if necessary), and assign volume labels. It is designed specifically to handle the **File Allocation Table (FAT)** family of file systems.

### Compatibility and Requirements
The software is explicitly built for **Unix-like operating systems**. It relies on the operating system to behave in a manner similar to a Unix system. It is available across a wide spectrum of package managers:
- **Debian/Ubuntu:** `dosfstools`
- **Fedora/openSUSE:** `dosfstools`
- **Arch Linux:** `dosfstools`
- **Gentoo:** `sys-fs/dosfstools`
- **OpenBSD:** `sysutils/dosfstools`
- **Homebrew (macOS):** `dosfstools`

### Release History
The project maintains a public release history, with version **4.2** being the current preferred release.
- **Version 3.0.27:** Released November 12, 2014.
- **Version 3.0.28:** Released May 16, 2015.
- **Version 4.0:** Released May 6, 2016.
- **Version 4.1:** Released January 24, 2017.
- **Version 4.2:** Released January 31, 2021.

### Development
The project is written in the programming language identified by Wikidata ID Q15777. It is copyrighted software licensed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it (Free Software). The source code is available via a Git repository using Smart HTTP over TLS.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools#readme)
2. [2017](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools/releases/tag/v4.1)
3. [Release 3.0.27. 2014](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools/releases/tag/v3.0.27)
4. [Release 3.0.28. 2015](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools/releases/tag/v3.0.28)
5. [Release 4.0. 2016](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools/releases/tag/v4.0)
6. [Release dosfstools 4.2](https://github.com/dosfstools/dosfstools/releases/tag/v4.2)
7. [Source](https://packages.debian.org/stable/dosfstools)
8. [Source](https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/sys-fs/dosfstools)
9. [Source](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dosfstools)