cdw(1)

📦
version 0.8.1 · 2 versions
, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu jammy, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

okay bestie, welcome to the cdw(1) page — straight outta the General Commands Manual — and it's giving ✨optical media realness✨. buckle up, we're getting into it. 💖

✨ NAME ✨

cdw — front-end for cdrecord, mkisofs, growisofs, mkudffs and other tools

🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

cdw [--help] [--version] [--enable-dvd-rp-dl] [--escdelay=X]

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

okay so cdw is a front-end for command-line tools used for burning data CD and DVD discs and for related tasks. the tools are: cdrecord/wodim, mkisofs/genisoimage, growisofs, dvd+rw-mediainfo, dvd+rw-format, xorriso. periodt. 💅

you can also use cdw to rip tracks from your audio CD to raw audio files. limited support for copying content of CD and DVD discs to image files is also provided. cdw can utilize md5sum program to verify correctness of writing ISO image to CD and DVD disc. cdw can be also used to create UDF image file using mkudffs. 🫶

cdw uses ncurses library to build user-friendly interface and it can be used in UNIX terminal window and in terminal emulator (like konsole, rxvt or gnome-console) in X environment. it's giving cozy terminal vibes, no cap. 🦋

cdw supports ISO9660 file system for optical media: ISO9660 file system can be written to stand-alone .iso file, or burned to optical disc. cdw also supports UDF file system: UDF file system can be written to stand-alone .udf file. currently there is no support for burning UDF file system directly to optical disc. other filesystem for optical media are not supported nor recognized. so don't try it, bestie. 🙈

🌈 SUPPORTED MEDIA 🌈

scope of supported features depends on which tools are installed on end user's system. full list of supported media and actions is listed below. 👑

CD-AUDIO

ripping audio tracks to raw audio files 🎵

CD-R

writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim and xorriso; copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc 💿

CD-RW

writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim and xorriso; copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc 🔥

DVD-R, DVD+R

writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim, dvd+rw-tools and xorriso 📀

DVD-RW

writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.

WARNING: multiple blanking may quickly render your DVD-RW unusable. 😭 not the reusable disc becoming a coaster. be careful, fr fr.

DVD+RW

writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. notice that when using wodim you may encounter problems. 😬

DVD+R DL

there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. user has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy. 🐛

dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported. 💀

Okay bestie, so here's the whole tea on how you actually do stuff with cdw. 💖

You can write data discs two ways: either by using an ISO image file you already made earlier, or by picking files off your hard drive and yeeting them straight onto the disc. cdw gives you UI for both, because of course it does. 👑

🌸 The whole flow, step by step 🌸

First thing you gotta do before creating a new ISO/UDF image or writing files to disc is pick your files off the hard drive. Do that by selecting "Add files" in the left-hand menu. Boom, you get a cute lil' file selector. 🎀

  • Use Up/Down arrows or Page Up/Page Down to move around.
  • Hit Enter to change the current directory.
  • Hit Space to select files or directories.
  • Everything you select gets added to the list chillin' in the main window.
  • Escape closes the file selector window, no drama.

The selector shows you all the files and directories in your current directory — hidden files included, no sneaky ones. 👀 You also get file size info for every single file on the list. Iconic.

You can also delete stuff you already picked: select "Delete files" from the menu, use Up/Down to move and the Delete key to delete the highlighted item. When you're done deleting from the selected-files list, hit Escape. 💅

Then you can select "Create image" from the left-hand menu. cdw will pop a wizard window where you can change the most common options for creating an ISO9660 or UDF image, and where you pick the path to your target image file on the hard disc. ✨

You can also select "Write files to disc" to write your selected files straight to an optical disc. Pick that and cdw shows a wizard dialog window where you can adjust the most common options related to burning files to disc — and heads up, for this function only ISO9660 file system is supported. 🫶

If you wanna write an ISO image file to an optical disc, use "Write image to disc" in the left-hand menu. You get a file picker dialog so you can choose an existing ISO image file off your hard disc. After that, cdw shows a wizard window where you can modify the most common options available for burning a disc. 🔥

🦋 Verify write, the experimental queen 🦋

cdw lets you verify the correctness of this operation by checking a digest (e.g. md5 sum) of the ISO file and of the track written to disc. Request it by checking the "Verify write" checkbox that shows up in the write wizard.

Careful bestie: that checkbox is only visible when you're writing an ISO file to an empty CD or DVD disc. And this function is still experimental. 😭

Make sure a program for calculating digests is installed on your machine. cdw supports these ones:

  • md5sum
  • sha1sum
  • sha224sum
  • sha256sum
  • sha384sum
  • sha512sum

💅 Erasing discs (the blanking saga) 💅

Another operation you can do is erase an optical disc — CD-RW, DVD-RW (both Sequential Recording and Restricted Overwrite) or DVD+RW. Select "Erase disc" in the cdw left-hand menu.

Real talk: extensive erasing of DVD-RW may render your disc unusable. Not a vibe. 🙈

For CD-RW and DVD-RW you'll be asked what type of blanking you want. Your choices:

  • fast mode — doesn't take too much time (for CD-RW it only erases the table of content of your disc).
  • full mode — can be very time-consuming, depending on disc size and selected speed. ⏳

When you attempt to blank a DVD-RW disc, the blanking wizard shows a dropdown that lets you choose the mode (format) of the DVD-RW disc: Restricted Overwrite or Sequential Recording.

🌈 Reading discs 🌈

cdw is lowkey useful when you wanna copy your data CD or DVD to an ISO image on your hard drive. Select "Read disc" from the left-hand menu. This copies the first track from your data CD or DVD.

No cap: reading second and following tracks from data discs, and reading discs written in mixed mode (one or more data tracks + audio tracks), are not supported. Periodt.

You can also use cdw to copy your audio CD to separate files — each track goes to its own file. Same deal: select "Read disc" from the menu. But cdw can't convert audio tracks to any popular audio format. 😭 The tracks are written in the same format they appear on CD: 2 channels, 44100 samples per second, 16 bit signed PCM, little endian (intel). The file names use this format:

track_xx.raw

where xx is the track number. You can convert a raw track file to a wav file using e.g. the sox command:

sox -c 2 -r 44100 -L -2 -s track_name.raw -t wav track_name.wav

🧚 Verifying data 🧚

The last operation cdw offers is verification of data. You can use it for two purposes:

  • calculating a digest of a selected file from hard disc;
  • comparing a selected file with the content of the first track on an optical disc.

The second option also uses a digest tool (e.g. md5sum), but it may not work correctly, so it's marked in cdw as "Experimental". 🙈

🎀 The Configuration window 🎀

cdw has a Configuration window, accessed by selecting "Configuration" in the left-hand menu. This window lets you set up options for the tools used by cdw, and for cdw itself. It has these tabs (access them with keys F2-F6):

  • Log and misc — options related to the log file where cdw logs its operations, and to some aspects of cdw's behavior.
  • Tools — options here let you select the tools from your operating system that will be used to create ISO9660 images, burn data to disc, etc. You can safely leave the "Configure tools manually" checkbox unmarked.
  • Audio — options related to ripping audio CDs.
  • Hardware — you'll probably visit this only once, when you use cdw for the first time or when you change your hardware configuration. Here you can set paths to your devices used by cdw.
  • UDF — this tab contains only text information about requirements for creating a UDF file system. There are no options available in this tab. All options for creating a UDF file system can be accessed through the UDF image wizard.

All options available in the Configuration window are described below, in the CONFIGURATION section. (That's coming up, bestie, don't scroll away. 👀)

You have to use the F9 or F10 key to save any changes made in the Configuration window and close it. To close the Configuration window without saving changes, use Escape.

Important: values from the "Tools" tab are saved only temporarily — they aren't stored in the permanent configuration file. 💀

You can control cdw using the application's menu (visible on the left side of the screen), or using hotkeys. Both are slay, pick your fighter. 💖

  • Add files: Select files and directories that you want to write to optical disc or to an ISO image on your hard disc. Press Space to select a file or directory, use Up and Down arrows to move on the list, press Enter to change directory, press Escape to close the file selection dialog.
  • Delete files: The list of selected files is displayed on the right side of the screen. If you want to delete files from the list, select this button and use the Delete key to delete a file, Up and Down arrows to move on the list, or press Escape to end deleting.
  • Write files to disc: write selected files to the optical disc that's currently in the drive. You'll be warned if there's no disc in the drive, the drive isn't ready, or the disc is mounted. 🫶
  • Create image: write selected files to an ISO9660 or UDF image file. The target image file can be selected in the file picker window.
  • Write image to disc: write an ISO image file to optical disc. The ISO image file can be selected in the file picker window. You'll be warned if there's no disc in the drive, the drive isn't ready, or the disc is mounted.
  • Read disc: Copy the content of your single session data CD/DVD or audio CD to files on the hard drive. In the case of data CD/DVD discs, cdw will create a correct image file on your hard disc, but only for the first track on the disc — the rest of the tracks won't be read (cdw can't read them correctly). In the case of audio CDs, cdw will copy each audio track to a separate raw audio file. You'll have to recode the raw audio track files in order to play them in your media player. 😭
  • Erase disc: Erase data (partially or fully) from a rewritable disc (CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW) that's currently in the drive. You can select the mode of erasing CD-RW or DVD-RW: fast or full. You can't select the mode of erasing of DVD+RW.
  • Verify data: Calculate a digest of a file selected from the hard drive, or compare any file with the first track of an optical disc.
  • Configuration: Selecting this menu option will display the cdw Configuration window, where you can set various options.
  • About: this option displays a window with short information about cdw.
  • Quit: close cdw and return to your command line.

👑 Keys (hotkeys, available in main cdw window) 👑

  • F1, H, ? — Show this help: Display the help window with the list of hotkeys.
  • F9/F10 — Show license of this program: display the cdw license.
  • C — Show Configuration window.
  • D — Show information about disc: cdw will run an external tool to get some meta-information about the optical disc in your drive and display this information in a text window.
  • E — Eject drive tray: open your optical drive tray (will close the tray if it's already open).
  • F — Write selected files to disc: Write the currently selected files to optical disc.
  • G — Read content of CD: Copy the content of your audio or data CD to your hard drive.
  • I — Write ISO image to disc: Write an ISO image to optical disc.
  • L — Show log of last operation: view the file with a record of the latest operations.
  • R — Refresh information about disc: cdw will run an external tool to get some meta-information about the optical disc in your drive and will display a short summary in the lower-left part of the main cdw window.
  • V — Verify data: calculate a digest of the selected file (and of the first track on an optical disc).
  • Q — Quit: close cdw and return to your command line.

🎀 CONFIGURATION 🎀

okay so this whole section is about the Configuration module, which you get to by smashing that "Configuration" button in the left-hand menu of the main cdw window. ✨

and listen, here's the thing bestie — you have to press F9/F10 in the Configuration window to actually save your changes and bounce, or hit Escape to close it and pretend nothing ever happened (no saving, we love a clean escape 🫶).

💀 also important: anything you change in the "Tools" tab is saved only for the current session. it does not stick around. it's giving temporary.
  • Log and misc (first tab):
    • Log file path — the path to the file where cdw writes its own messages and messages from external tools (mkisofs, cdrecord, growisofs, dvd+rw-mediainfo, xorriso, mkudffs, etc.). Setting this path is obligatory, bestie, you literally cannot skip it.
    • Show log after actions — shows you the content of the log file after some of the actions cdw performs. 👀
    • Volume size — the size of the ISO/UDF filesystem you want to create. most often it's equal to the capacity of the optical disc you want to burn data to. it's a dropdown, and you can pick one of the preselected values, or pick "Custom size". if you pick custom, the value goes in the field below the dropdown.
    • Custom size — the size of the ISO/UDF filesystem you want to create. this is the spot where you type in a nonstandard value for your target ISO/UDF filesystem size. 💅
    • a checkbox for following symbolic links in selected files. read the text next to the checkbox for more info, it's right there for a reason.
    • a checkbox that modifies the style of navigation in the file system browser windows. when it's checked, you can use the Left/Right keys on your keyboard to move up/down in the hierarchy of directories in the file system. this works similarly to Midnight Commander's "Lynx-like motion" option. iconic behaviour honestly.
  • Tools (second tab):

first thing you'll see in this tab is the "Configure tools manually" checkbox. it is unchecked by default, and that is the safe default value. in this state, cdw selects the tools itself, no stress. ✨

if you check that checkbox though, you get presented with six dropdowns: the first three let you pick tools (or families of tools) meant for specific tasks. the remaining dropdowns let you pick paths to some tools cdw uses for certain tasks. all of them explained below, don't worry 🫶

  • "Tool for creating stand alone ISO9660 file" — here you pick the tool used to create an ISO9660 file saved on your hard disc (a stand-alone file). depending on how your software is configured, you might find mkisofs (genisoimage) and xorriso here.
  • "Tools for handling CDs" dropdown — here you pick the tool that'll be used to burn data to CD/CD-RW discs and to erase CD-RW discs. depending on your software config, you might find cdrecord (wodim) and xorriso here.
  • "Tools for handling DVDs" dropdown — here you pick the tool used to burn data to DVD discs and to erase DVD+/-RW discs. depending on your software config, you might find dvd+rw-tools, cdrecord (wodim) and xorriso here. note that xorriso can only be used for DVD+/-R discs. 📀
  • "Path to mkisofs" dropdown — here you can select one of the implementations of mkisofs installed on your system (e.g. if you have both mkisofs and genisoimage).
  • "Path to cdrecord" dropdown — here you can select one of the implementations of cdrecord installed on your system (e.g. if you have both cdrecord and wodim).
  • "Digest tool" — here you can pick the tool used for calculating a digest (checksum) — it's used e.g. during verification of burning of an ISO9660 file to an optical disc. md5sum is the default one, if found. 🌸
😭 remember remember remember: these settings are saved only for your current session with cdw, and they get discarded the moment you close cdw. periodt.
  • Audio (third tab):
    • Audio output dir — path to the directory where cdw will write raw audio tracks ripped from an audio CD. 🎵
  • Hardware (fourth tab):
    • "cdw should use this drive" dropdown — lets you select one of the detected drives, or use a path to a drive entered manually ("custom path").
    • "Custom path to drive" — a field where you can specify your own path to a device, for when cdw can't autodetect all the drives on your computer. 🦋
    • SCSI device — parameters describing your SCSI hardware, in this format: scsibus,target,lun (for a SCSI-emulated IDE CDRW: 0,0,0). it's used only by cdrecord, and you should only enter a value here if cdrecord is having problems with the device path in the form of '/dev/xxx'. otherwise, leave this field empty.
🚨 this option hasn't been tested, so use it at your own risk. fr fr.
  • UDF (fifth tab): this tab only contains basic information about what cdw requires in order to create UDF file systems. the options related to UDF file systems live in the UDF image wizard.

notice that cdw doesn't specify (almost) any default options for mkudffs or rsync. the user has to pick the best set of options for these programs themselves, to suit their needs. 💅

the "-a" option for rsync is a good starting point. and if your version of rsync supports "--info=progress2" and you enter that option in the rsync options field, cdw will show you a better progress indication. ✨

💖 OPTIONS 💖

the command line options are as follows, bestie:

  • -h, -- help — displays information about invoking cdw and its options
  • -v, --version — displays cdw version and copyright information
  • --enable-dvd+rp-dl — enables very basic support for DVD+R DL discs
  • --escdelay=X — modifies the delay time between pressing the Escape key in the cdw window and the reaction to that key

🌈 FILES 🌈

  • cdw.conf: the configuration file, usually stored in the $HOME/.cdw/ directory.
  • cdw.log: the log file, by default stored in the $HOME/.cdw/ directory. the path to this file can be modified in the Configuration window ("Log and misc" tab > 'Log file path' field).
  • cdw.colors: the file with the definition of the color schemes used to customize cdw's interface. the file is stored in the $HOME/.cdw/ directory.
  • temporary files: cdw uses some small temporary files to store various bits of information. they're usually created in the /tmp directory. if everything goes well, they are very short-lived and get removed as soon as they're no longer needed. 🧚

🫶 ENVIRONMENT 🫶

  • HOME — cdw assumes this variable exists and is set to a valid user directory. if it isn't, the user gets asked to select some other 'base' directory.
  • PATH — cdw reads this environment variable to find directories containing executable files. cdw will search in those directories for some tools.

🔍 DIAGNOSTICS 🔍

cdw uses the log file ($HOME/.cdw/cdw.log by default) to store information about the actions it performs. you can get at this file using your file manager, or by pressing the 'L' key in the cdw window. read this file for any hints if you run into problems, bestie. it will tell you things. 👑

💀 BUGS 💀

there are still some bugs related to memory management. yeah. 😭

cdw is developed and tested almost exclusively on x64 GNU/Linux, so running cdw on other platforms may produce some platform-specific bugs. currently, I can't verify them in any way.

cdw still fails to detect some problems reported by wodim/cdrecord, mkisofs/genisoimage or growisofs, although things have improved in the latest few versions. support for xorriso is brand new, so there are a lot of error messages printed by xorriso that cdw is unaware of, and it will happily ignore them. it is recommended that you read the log file after every operation. 📖

copying data CDs to an ISO image may finish with the message "Problems occurred when copying tracks". this does not have to mean the output ISO file is corrupted — it may be a sign of some low-level problems when reading from the optical disc. a similar message displayed after ripping an audio CD may mean that one or more track files created on your hard disc is corrupted, and it's caused by an invalid audio CD.

if you notice any other bugs, please let me know. you can do this either using the bug tracker on the cdw project site (http://sourceforge.net/projects/cdw/) or by sending me an e-mail: acerion@wp.pl. 🫶

👑 AUTHOR 👑

cdw is currently developed by Kamil Ignacak (acerion@wp.pl). the first developer of cdw was Varkonyi Balazs (http://sourceforge.net/users/vbali/).

Copyright (C) 2002 Varkonyi Balazs, Copyright (C) 2007 - 2016 Kamil Ignacak.

this program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html for details.

🌸 SEE ALSO 🌸

cdrecord(1), mkisofs(8), growisofs(1), dvd+rw-mediainfo(1), dvd+rw-format(1), cdrdao, mybashburn, k3b(1), gnomebaker(1), xorriso(1), libisoburn1, libburn4, mkudffs(1), rsync(1), libcdio.

and that's the whole page bestie, we ate and left no crumbs 💅✨ — this was cdw(1), version 0.8.1, dated 2 April 2016. go burn something cute 🎀

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