# Frequently Asked Questions

```text {contents}
:local:
```

*Quick, friendly answers to the most common questions we get from users. All
commands are meant to be run **inside a compute container** (or via an
interactive shell on the node).*

*(If you can’t find an answer, see [Support & Contact](./support).)*

---

## File-management & trash

**Q:** *I deleted a bunch of files through the UI (“Move to trash”). My quota is
still full. Why?*

**A:** The UI only moves the files into a hidden **`.Trash-<uid>`** directory;
the data stays on disk until it is physically removed.

| Step | What to do | Example command |
|------|------------|-----------------|
| Locate your trash folder | `~/workspace/Storage/<username>/persistent/.Trash-1000` | `ls -l ~/workspace/Storage/$SCISERVER_USER_NAME/persistent/.Trash-1000` |
| Empty the trash | Delete the contents with `rm` | `rm -r ~/workspace/Storage/$SCISERVER_USER_NAME/persistent/.Trash-1000/*` |
| Verify quota | use the “Current storage use” command below | `du -sh ~/workspace/Storage/$SCISERVER_USER_NAME` |

> Only a true `rm` (or `unlink`) frees the blocks; the UI’s “trash” is just a
> convenience folder.

---

## Conda vs. Mamba

**Q:**
*I see both `conda` and `mamba` in the containers. Which one should I use?*

**A:**

* `conda` works and is the classic tool.
* `mamba` is a drop-in replacement that is **~5-10× faster** for solving
  environments.

All Sciserver images ship with `mamba` pre-configured to use the `conda-forge`
channel, so you get the same packages with a much quicker install.

## Bottom line

* Use `mamba` for new environment creation or when you need a quick solve.
* `conda` remains available for legacy scripts, but you’ll rarely need it.

```bash
# Example – create an environment with mamba
mamba create -n myenv python=3.13 numpy pandas
# Activate using either mamba or conda (both conda and mamba share the same env files)
conda activate myenv
```

---

## How can I see how much storage am I using right now?

**Q:**
*I’m not sure how much of my quota is already taken. Is there a quick command?*

**A:** Yes – a couple of `du` one-liners give you a snapshot of the two main
storage areas.

```bash
# Persistent storage quota
du -h --max-depth=2 ~/workspace/Storage/*/ > storage-$(date +'%d%m%Y-%H%M%S').log

# Temporary (scratch) area
du -h --max-depth=2 ~/workspace/Temporary/*/ > temporary-$(date +'%d%m%Y-%H%M%S').log
```

* The files `storage-<timestamp>.log` and `temporary-<timestamp>.log` are
  created in your current working directory; open them with `less` or `cat` to
  see a per-folder breakdown.

* If you just want a **summary**:

```bash
du -sh ~/workspace/Storage
du -sh ~/workspace/Temporary
```

Knowing which sub-folders consume the most space makes it easier to clean up or
request extra quota if needed.