A Python script to validate and maintain a directory of raw camera files. The script checks for invalid file extensions, hidden files, and empty directories within your raw photos directory.

• Validates file extensions against a list of allowed raw photo formats (.nef, .arw)
• Identifies hidden files (files starting with '.')
• Finds and optionally removes empty directories
• Includes a dry-run mode for safe testing

• Python 3.6 or higher
• No additional dependencies required

The script uses the following configuration variables at the top of check_raw_files.py:

ROOT_DIR = "/path/to/photos"           # Replace with your photo directory path
RAW_FOLDER = "raw"                     # Name of the raw photos subdirectory
ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS = {'.nef', '.arw'}  # Allowed raw file extensions (case-insensitive)
DRY_RUN = True                         # Set to False to actually remove empty directories

1. Edit the configuration variables in check_raw_files.py to match your setup:

   • Set ROOT_DIR to your photos directory path
   • Adjust RAW_FOLDER if your raw photos are in a different subdirectory
   • Modify ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS if you need to support different raw formats
   • Set DRY_RUN to False when you're ready to remove empty directories

2. Run the script:

python check_raw_files.py

Checking for invalid files in /path/to/photos/raw
Allowed extensions: .nef, .arw
Running in DRY RUN mode - no directories will be removed
--------------------------------------------------

No invalid extensions found. All files are valid raw camera files.

Found 2 hidden files:
- /path/to/photos/raw/.DS_Store
- /path/to/photos/raw/2023/.hidden_file

Found 3 empty directories:
- /path/to/photos/raw/2023/empty_folder
- /path/to/photos/raw/2022/unused_folder
- /path/to/photos/raw/old_imports

DRY RUN - No directories will be removed
The following directories would be removed:
- /path/to/photos/raw/2023/empty_folder
- /path/to/photos/raw/2022/unused_folder
- /path/to/photos/raw/old_imports

• Dry-run mode (enabled by default) lets you preview changes before making them
• Double verification of empty directories before removal
• Proper handling of nested directories (removes deepest directories first)
• Error handling for permission issues and other potential problems

• The script performs case-insensitive extension checking
• Hidden files are reported but not removed
• Empty directory removal is optional and controlled by the DRY_RUN setting
• The script will only remove directories that are completely empty (including hidden files)