Docs(blog): Add post on importance of checking disk space before inst…

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docs/blog/posts/2024-11-11-always-check-disk-space-before-installing-dependencies.md

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+---
+title: Always Check Disk Space Before Installing Dependencies
+date: 2024-11-11
+authors: [lifeadventurer]
+categories:
+  - DevOps
+description: >
+  A recent experience with server disk space and the importance of checking it before installing dependencies. Also, discovered the tool `ncdu` for managing disk usage.
+---
+
+# Always Check Disk Space Before Installing Dependencies!
+
+Recently, I had a nerve-wracking experience with my server. I was in the middle
+of installing some new dependencies when things suddenly went south. The
+installation process was running smoothly—until it wasn’t. Without realizing it,
+I’d maxed out my server’s disk usage. As a result, I couldn’t even SSH into the
+server to see what went wrong or free up some space. Eventually, I had no choice
+but to reboot the server to get back in.
+
+This experience was a big reminder that disk space isn’t just something to keep
+an eye on occasionally. It’s a **critical factor** to check _before_ installing
+anything new on a server. Running out of disk space can cause unexpected
+downtimes, prevent crucial services from running, and in some cases, even make
+SSH inaccessible—as I learned the hard way.
+
+On the bright side, I discovered a handy tool called `ncdu`! It's a **disk usage
+analyzer** that makes it easy to visualize disk usage and pinpoint files or
+directories hogging the most space. With `ncdu`, you can scan a directory and
+quickly find unnecessary files or large logs to delete.
+
+## Key Takeaways
+
+1. **Always check disk usage** – Before installing dependencies or running any
+   operations that might consume space, run a quick check on available disk
+   space using commands like `df -h`, `du`, or `ncdu`.
+
+2. **Monitor disk usage regularly** – Set up alerts or monitoring tools to
+   notify you when disk usage reaches a critical level.
+
+3. **Keep a buffer of free space** – Aim to keep a reasonable percentage of disk
+   space free. This way, even if your application needs to expand temporarily,
+   you’ll have room.
+
+4. **Schedule maintenance** – Regularly remove unnecessary files, logs, and
+   outdated dependencies to keep your server’s storage under control.
+
+It’s easy to overlook disk space until it’s too late, but with these steps in
+place, you can avoid disruptions and maintain smoother operations on your
+server. A little proactive monitoring goes a long way!