sparsity ☆

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Description:
Create and find APFS sparse files

Type: Cask | Latest Version: 1.4,2025.07@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: apfs sparse-files macos cli disk-utility storage

Install: brew install --cask sparsity

About:
Sparsity is a command-line utility designed for macOS that enables users to create and manage APFS sparse files. It provides precise control over file allocation, allowing significant disk space savings by creating files that appear full-sized but consume minimal physical storage. This tool is essential for advanced disk management and testing scenarios where efficient storage utilization is critical.

Key Features:

Create APFS sparse files with custom sizes
Display detailed file allocation information
Manage and manipulate existing sparse files
Command-line interface for scripting and automation

Use Cases:

Creating test files of large sizes without consuming actual disk space
Managing storage efficiently for virtual machine images or databases
Developing and testing applications that interact with APFS file systems

Alternatives:

mkfile – mkfile can create preallocated files but lacks native APFS sparse file creation capabilities
dd – dd can create sparse files but requires manual calculation and lacks APFS-specific optimizations

Version History

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