hashdir - Recursive Directory Hash Utility

The hashdir module recursively calculates hashes for all files within a directory tree, generating a consolidated list of checksums and relative paths for integrity verification.

When to Activate

• When comparing two directory structures for differences in content.
• When creating a security baseline for a specific folder (e.g., config or source code).
• When tracking directory changes in version control via baseline hash files.

Core Principles & Rules

• Consistency: Files are sorted alphabetically to ensure consistent hash output regardless of OS traversal order.
• Relative Paths: Uses relative paths in the output to allow for portability across different root paths.

Patterns & Examples

Directory Integrity

# Calculate the SHA256 hash list for a project directory
x hashdir --sha256 ./my_project

Baseline Comparison

# Compare current directory state against a saved MD5 baseline
x hashdir . | diff - baseline.md5

Checklist

• Confirm the target directory path.
• Verify the desired hash algorithm (MD5 is default).
• Ensure the user is aware the operation is recursive.