# f2fs-tools

> userspace utilities for F2FS filesystem

**Wikidata**: [Q106092625](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106092625)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/f2fs-tools

## Summary
f2fs-tools is a collection of userspace utilities for managing the F2FS filesystem. It is free software designed to run on Linux operating systems, allowing users to interact with and maintain F2FS partitions. The tools are dual-licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 and the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1.

## Key Facts
- **Description:** Userspace utilities for the F2FS filesystem.
- **Operating System:** Linux (family of Unix-like operating systems).
- **Software Class:** Utility software and free software.
- **Licenses:** GNU General Public License, version 2.0 and GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1.
- **Source Repository:** Hosted at `https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git`.
- **Initial Release:** Version 1.0.0 was released on November 26, 2012.
- **Related Filesystem:** F2FS (Flash-Friendly File System), which was inceptioned on August 3, 2012.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of f2fs-tools?
A: f2fs-tools provides the necessary userspace utilities to create, check, and manage F2FS filesystems on Linux operating systems. Without these tools, the kernel module alone would not be sufficient for user-level filesystem management.

### Q: Under which licenses is f2fs-tools distributed?
A: The software is distributed under a dual license: the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 (GPL-2.0) and the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 (LGPL-2.1).

### Q: Where can the source code for f2fs-tools be found?
A: The official source code repository is located in the Linux kernel git tree at `https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git`.

### Q: Which Linux distributions include f2fs-tools?
A: The utilities are packaged for major distributions including Alpine Linux, Arch Linux, Debian (stable), Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, and Ubuntu.

## Why It Matters
f2fs-tools plays a critical infrastructure role in the Linux ecosystem by bridging the gap between the user and the F2FS kernel module. While the F2FS filesystem itself is a modern log-structured flash file system, it requires these specific userspace utilities to be practically usable on a device. By providing tools for formatting (`mkfs.f2fs`), checking (`fsck.f2fs`), and resizing filesystems, f2fs-tools enables the adoption of F2FS across diverse computing environments, from mobile devices to servers. Its inclusion in major distribution repositories (such as Fedora, Debian, and Arch) underscores its status as a standard component for Linux storage management. The availability of these tools under free software licenses ensures that users can freely study, modify, and distribute the software, fostering collaborative improvement and widespread implementation.

## Notable For
- **Official Userspace Suite:** Serves as the primary userspace interface for the F2FS filesystem.
- **Broad Distribution Support:** Distinctly packaged across a wide range of Linux distributions including Alpine, Arch, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, and Ubuntu.
- **Dual Licensing:** Notable for being dual-licensed under GPLv2.0 and LGPLv2.1, offering flexibility for developers and users.
- **Rapid Initial Development:** Released its first two versions (1.0.0 and 1.1.0) within three days of each other in late November 2012.

## Body
### Overview and Classification
f2fs-tools is classified as utility software and free software. It functions strictly within the Linux environment—an operating system family with an inception date of September 17, 1991. The package facilitates the use of the F2FS filesystem, a file system inceptioned on August 3, 2012.

### Licensing and Copyright
The project is copyrighted but distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it. Specifically, the source code is available under:
- GNU General Public License, version 2.0
- GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1

### Version History
The development of f2fs-tools began shortly after the inception of the F2FS filesystem. Key release dates for the utilities include:
- **1.0.0:** Released November 26, 2012.
- **1.1.0:** Released November 29, 2012.
- **1.2.0:** Released October 25, 2013.
- **1.3.0:** Released February 6, 2014.
- **1.4.0:** Released September 19, 2014.
- **1.4.1:** Released March 5, 2015.
- **1.5.0:** Released November 5, 2015.
- **1.6.0:** Released December 21, 2015.
- **1.6.1:** Released March 22, 2016.
- **1.7.0:** Released July 29, 2016.

### Availability and Packages
f2fs-tools is widely available across the Linux ecosystem under the project name `f2fs-tools`. Specific package details include:
- **Alpine Linux:** Offers multiple variants including `f2fs-tools`, `f2fs-tools-static`, `f2fs-tools-libs`, `f2fs-tools-dev`, and `f2fs-tools-doc`.
- **Gentoo:** Available as `sys-fs/f2fs-tools`.
- **Debian Stable, Fedora, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Arch Linux:** Available as `f2fs-tools`.

### Repository
The source code is maintained in a Git repository using Git Smart HTTP over TLS.
- **URL:** `https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git`

## References

1. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tree/COPYING)
2. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.0.0)
3. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.1.0)
4. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.2.0)
5. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.3.0)
6. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.4.0)
7. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.4.1)
8. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.5.0)
9. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.6.0)
10. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.6.1)
11. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.7.0)
12. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.8.0)
13. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.9.0)
14. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.10.0)
15. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.11.0)
16. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.12.0)
17. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.13.0)
18. [Source](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jaegeuk/f2fs-tools.git/tag/?h=v1.14.0)
19. [Source](https://f2fs.wiki.kernel.org/)