This project provides Go APIs for making and checking APFS clones, as well as a CLI tool. Supports recursively cloning directories.

Credit to https://github.com/dyorgio/apfs-clone-checker for the checking method.

API

See reference.

CLI

To install,

go install tcl.sh/apfsclone/cmd/apfsclone@latest

Usage:
	apfsclone <source> <destination>
	apfsclone -c [-q] <file1> <file2>

Makes or checks APFS clones.

---

In clone mode, if <source> is a file, make an APFS clone of it at <destination>.
If <source> is a directory, recursively clone contents of it at <destination>.
<source> and <destination> must be on the same APFS volume, and <destination>
must not exist. If <source> is a symbolic link, it is cloned as is, not followed.

The exit code is 0 if the clone operation is successful, and 1 otherwise.

---

In check mode (-c), check if <file1> and <file2> are APFS clones of each other.
Symbolic links are not followed. The following results may be printed:

  result unknown (only when there's an error; printed in addition to the error)
  files are apfs clones
  files aren't apfs clones
  files reference the same inode
  both files are empty

The exit code is 0 if "files are apfs clones", 2 if "result unknown" (errored),
and 1 otherwise. With -q, message is suppressed, exit code is the same.

---

Options:
  -c	check mode
  -q	quiet