GNU Parted facts for kids
The
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| Original author(s) | Andrew Clausen, Lennert Buytenhek |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Various |
| Stable release |
3.6
 / 11 April 2023 |
| Preview release |
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| Written in | C |
| Operating system | Linux, GNU Hurd |
| Type | Partition editor |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
GNU Parted is a special computer program. It helps you manage the storage space on your computer's hard disk. Think of your hard disk as a big closet. GNU Parted helps you divide this closet into different sections, called partitions.
This program is free to use and share. It was created by Andrew Clausen and Lennert Buytenhek. You can use it to create new sections or delete old ones. This is helpful if you want to add a new operating system to your computer. It also helps you organize your disk space better. You can even copy data between different hard disks.
GNU Parted has two main parts. One part is called libparted, which is like a toolbox of functions. The other part is parted. This is a command-line tool. It means you type commands to tell it what to do.
As of 2013, GNU Parted works on computers running Linux and GNU/Hurd operating systems.
Contents
How GNU Parted Works: Different Ways to Use It
GNU Parted is a powerful tool. But most people don't use it directly. Instead, they use other programs that are built on top of it. These programs are called "front-ends." They make it easier to use GNU Parted's features.
Text-Based Tools
Some front-ends use text only. You type commands or choose options from a text menu.
- nparted is one such tool. It uses a special library called Newt to create its text-based menus.
- There was also a project for an ncurses front-end. This would let people use it on Windows too, with a special program.
- fatresize is another text-based tool. It uses GNU Parted to change the size of FAT16/FAT32 partitions. It can do this without losing your data.
- tparted is a text-based front-end that uses a system called TV/FV.
Graphical Programs
Many people prefer graphical programs. These programs have buttons, menus, and windows you can click. They make managing partitions much easier.
- GParted is a very popular graphical program. It uses the GNU Parted tools behind the scenes. GParted is designed for the GNOME desktop environment. Many special "live CD" versions of Linux include GParted. These CDs let you run Linux from the disk without installing it. This makes it easy to manage your computer's partitions.
- KDE Partition Manager is another graphical program. It is made for the KDE desktop environment. It also used GNU Parted in the past. Now, it uses a different tool called sfdisk.
- QtParted was another graphical program. It was also based on Qt, but it is not updated anymore.
- Pyparted (also called python-parted) is a way for programmers to use GNU Parted with the Python language.
Many Linux distributions come with GNU Parted already installed. These include Slackware, Knoppix, sidux, SystemRescueCD, and Parted Magic.
What GNU Parted Cannot Do Anymore
In older versions, GNU Parted could do more things with the files inside partitions. For example, it could create, move, or copy file systems. However, in version 3.0 and later, this support was removed. Now, it mainly focuses on creating and managing the partitions themselves.
See also
In Spanish: GNU Parted para niños
- List of disk partitioning software
- util-linux:
- fdisk
- cfdisk
- sfdisk
- gpart
- gparted
- FIPS
- Master Boot Record manager
