added --export-as-hardlink option

osxphotos/__main__.py

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class ExportCommand(click.Command):
         )
         formatter.write("\n")
         formatter.write_text(
-            "The templating system may also be used with the --keyword-template option "
+                        "The templating system may also be used with the --keyword-template option "
             + "to set keywords on export (with --exiftool or --sidecar), "
             + "for example, to set a new keyword in format 'folder/subfolder/album' to "
             + 'preserve the folder/album structure, you can use --keyword-template "{folder_album}"'
@@ -860,6 +860,11 @@ def query(
 @DB_OPTION
 @click.option("--verbose", "-V", is_flag=True, help="Print verbose output.")
 @query_options
+@click.option(
+    "--export-as-hardlink",
+    is_flag=True,
+    help="Hardlink files instead of copying them. ",
+)
 @click.option(
     "--overwrite",
     is_flag=True,
@@ -1004,6 +1009,7 @@ def export(
     from_date,
     to_date,
     verbose,
+    export_as_hardlink,
     overwrite,
     export_by_date,
     skip_edited,
@@ -1195,6 +1201,7 @@ def export(
                         verbose,
                         export_by_date,
                         sidecar,
+                        export_as_hardlink,
                         overwrite,
                         export_edited,
                         original_name,
@@ -1216,6 +1223,7 @@ def export(
                     verbose,
                     export_by_date,
                     sidecar,
+                    export_as_hardlink,
                     overwrite,
                     export_edited,
                     original_name,
@@ -1605,6 +1613,7 @@ def export_photo(
     verbose,
     export_by_date,
     sidecar,
+    export_as_hardlink,
     overwrite,
     export_edited,
     original_name,
@@ -1624,6 +1633,7 @@ def export_photo(
         verbose: boolean; print verbose output
         export_by_date: boolean; create export folder in form dest/YYYY/MM/DD
         sidecar: list zero, 1 or 2 of ["json","xmp"] of sidecar variety to export
+        export_as_hardlink: boolean; hardlink files instead of copying them
         overwrite: boolean; overwrite dest file if it already exists
         original_name: boolean; use original filename instead of current filename
         export_live: boolean; also export live video component if photo is a live photo
@@ -1715,6 +1725,7 @@ def export_photo(
             sidecar_xmp=sidecar_xmp,
             live_photo=export_live,
             raw_photo=export_raw,
+            export_as_hardlink=export_as_hardlink,
             overwrite=overwrite,
             use_photos_export=use_photos_export,
             exiftool=exiftool,
@@ -1752,6 +1763,7 @@ def export_photo(
                     edited_name,
                     sidecar_json=sidecar_json,
                     sidecar_xmp=sidecar_xmp,
+                    export_as_hardlink=export_as_hardlink,
                     overwrite=overwrite,
                     edited=True,
                     use_photos_export=use_photos_export,

osxphotos/photoinfo.py

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from .template import (
     TEMPLATE_SUBSTITUTIONS_MULTI_VALUED,
 )
 from .utils import (
+    _hardlink_file,
     _copy_file,
     _export_photo_uuid_applescript,
     _get_resource_loc,
@@ -635,6 +636,7 @@ class PhotoInfo:
         edited=False,
         live_photo=False,
         raw_photo=False,
+        export_as_hardlink=False,
         overwrite=False,
         increment=True,
         sidecar_json=False,
@@ -660,6 +662,7 @@ class PhotoInfo:
                     (or raise exception if no edited version) 
             live_photo: (boolean, default=False); if True, will also export the associted .mov for live photos
             raw_photo: (boolean, default=False); if True, will also export the associted RAW photo
+            export_as_hardlink: (boolean, default=False); if True, will hardlink files instead of copying them
             overwrite: (boolean, default=False); if True will overwrite files if they alreay exist 
             increment: (boolean, default=True); if True, will increment file name until a non-existant name is found 
                        if overwrite=False and increment=False, export will fail if destination file already exists 
@@ -802,7 +805,10 @@ class PhotoInfo:
             )
 
             # copy the file, _copy_file uses ditto to preserve Mac extended attributes
-            _copy_file(src, dest, norsrc=no_xattr)
+            if export_as_hardlink:
+                _hardlink_file(src, dest)
+            else:
+                _copy_file(src, dest, norsrc=no_xattr)          
             exported_files.append(str(dest))
 
             # copy live photo associated .mov if requested
@@ -814,7 +820,10 @@ class PhotoInfo:
                     logging.debug(
                         f"Exporting live photo video of {filename} as {live_name.name}"
                     )
-                    _copy_file(src_live, str(live_name), norsrc=no_xattr)
+                    if export_as_hardlink:
+                        _hardlink_file(src_live, str(live_name))
+                    else:
+                        _copy_file(src_live, str(live_name), norsrc=no_xattr)
                     exported_files.append(str(live_name))
                 else:
                     logging.warning(f"Skipping missing live movie for {filename}")
@@ -828,7 +837,10 @@ class PhotoInfo:
                     logging.debug(
                         f"Exporting RAW photo of {filename} as {raw_name.name}"
                     )
-                    _copy_file(str(raw_path), str(raw_name), norsrc=no_xattr)
+                    if export_as_hardlink:
+                        _hardlink_file(str(raw_path), str(raw_name))
+                    else:
+                        _copy_file(str(raw_path), str(raw_name), norsrc=no_xattr)
                     exported_files.append(str(raw_name))
                 else:
                     logging.warning(f"Skipping missing RAW photo for {filename}")

osxphotos/utils.py

@@ -118,6 +118,32 @@ def _dd_to_dms(dd):
     return int(deg_), int(min_), sec_
 
 
+def _hardlink_file(src, dest):
+    """ Hardlinks a file from src path to dest path 
+        src: source path as string 
+        dest: destination path as string
+        Raises exception if linking fails or either path is None """
+
+    if src is None or dest is None:
+        raise ValueError("src and dest must not be None", src, dest)
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(src):
+        raise FileNotFoundError("src file does not appear to exist", src)
+
+    command = ["ln", src, dest]
+
+    # if error on copy, subprocess will raise CalledProcessError
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(command, check=True, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        logging.critical(
+            f"ln returned error: {e.returncode} {e.stderr.decode(sys.getfilesystemencoding()).rstrip()}"
+        )
+        raise e
+
+    return result.returncode
+    
+
 def _copy_file(src, dest, norsrc=False):
     """ Copies a file from src path to dest path 
         src: source path as string