Introducing DiskLens: A Modern Disk Analyzer Born from a Classic
The story of how a beloved Java tool from the 2000s inspired a 3-day coding challenge to create something new.
You know the feeling, right? You get that dreaded "disk full" notification, and you're just staring at your screen thinking... how? Where did it all go?
You know you have gigabytes of something hiding somewhere, but finding it feels impossible. The built-in tools just don't always cut it.
The Inspiration
This whole project isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's more of a tribute, really. It's about taking the spirit of a tool that was fantastic for its time and giving it a much-needed modern makeover.
The Classic: JDiskReport
That classic tool was JDiskReport. If you've ever used it, you know it was a workhorse - absolutely solid. But it was built on Java, and on modern computers, it just felt slow. And let's be honest, it looked pretty dated.
I loved what it did, but I knew there had to be a way to get that same power in a package that was fast, beautiful, and just felt good to use.
The 3-Day Challenge
So, with that idea in mind, a pretty crazy challenge was set: Could a brand new, fully featured, cross-platform disk analyzer be built from scratch in just 3 days?
It sounds a little nuts, but the answer was yes.
- Day 1: Basic project up and scanning files
- Day 2: All core visualization modes in place
- Day 3: Polish, pro features, and cross-platform builds
The Secret: AI-Assisted Development
How was this even possible? A huge part of it was using AI coding assistance. They took the project from just a couple of sample images to about 60% of a working application. That initial leap was a game changer.
Then other tools helped bring it all the way home, creating the stable, high-performance tool we have now.
What Came Out
DiskLens is a visual disk space analyzer that helps you understand where your storage went. It's:
- ✦ Fast - Smart scanning adapts to your drive type
- ✦ Beautiful - Modern UI with multiple chart types
- ✦ Cross-platform - Works on Mac and Windows
- ✦ Private - 100% local, no data ever leaves your computer
From an old beloved classic came a modern, fast, and beautiful solution to a problem we all have.
Ready to see where your space went?
Download DiskLens Free