lf - Terminal file manager

lf

Terminal file manager

Introduction

lf (list files) is a lightweight terminal file manager developed in Go by github.com/gokcehan, offering a way to browse, manipulate, and manage files using keyboard shortcuts. Its interface and operation mode are similar to ranger, but it emphasizes being lightweight and high-performance. It also supports deep customization through configuration and scripting.

INFO

The theme design of lf pairs perfectly with our x theme module, and we highly recommend using them together!

Quick Start

Installation

eval "$(curl https://get.x-cmd.com)"        # Installing x-cmd
x env use lf                                # Install lf using x-cmd

Usage

1. Common startup options for lf:

   lf <path>           # Set the initial directory to open, defaults to the current directory if empty
   lf -doc             # View the lf documentation
   lf -print-last-dir  # Print the last visited directory

2. Common built-in keyboard shortcuts:

   • q: Exit lf
   • space: Mark the selected file or directory
   • v: Reverse the marked selection in the current directory
   • u: Unmark all selections
   • y: Copy the selected file or directory
   • d: Cut the selected file or directory
   • p: Paste the selected file or directory into the current directory, either by copying or cutting.
   • r: Rename the selected file or directory.
   • c: Clear the copied or cut file(s)
   • f: Perform a search
   • zh: Show hidden files
   • ss: Display file sizes and sort

3. Common built-in commands:

   • :cd <path>: Change the current directory
   • :set icons true: Enable icon display for file types
   • $ rm -f <file_name> or :delete <file_name>: Delete the specified file in the current directory

Technical Features

1. Simple and Easy to Use: The file interface is clean and intuitive, with file previews and built-in keyboard shortcuts and simple commands to efficiently navigate, search, and move files.
2. Customizable: Supports editing the lfrc file to modify configurations and extend functionality.
3. No External Dependencies: No need for additional third-party dependencies, works out of the box, and is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Competitors and Related Projects

1. yazi: A terminal file manager developed in Rust, featuring comprehensive functionality with support for previewing text files, PDFs, images, videos, and built-in syntax highlighting.
2. xplr: A TUI file manager developed in Rust, focusing on simplicity and extensibility. It is ideal for use in resource-constrained environments.
3. nnn: A terminal file manager developed in C by github.com/jarun, offering a full set of features with a minimalist UI.
4. superfile: A terminal file manager developed in Go, with a full range of features and a sleek, aesthetically pleasing UI.
5. broot: A terminal file manager developed in Rust that uses a tree view to explore file hierarchies and manage files.
6. x ls: A module by x-cmd implemented in Posix shell and awk for viewing file/folder information in an interactive TUI format.

Further Reading

• lf Source Code - The source code of the lf project is hosted on GitHub, where you can find the latest version and contribute to the community.
• lf Official Documentation - Offers extensive use cases and technical documentation.
• LF – Terminal File Manager for Linux - This article introduces the basic usage of lf.

Global Installation：

1. Automatically download the installation package and expand it locally.
2. Automatically create symbolic links for executable files in x-cmd's bin directory.
3. All currently open shells can directly use the command name.

x pkg use lf

https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
License	MIT
Language	"Go"
Version	vr33 stable

Package Installation Support Provided for
x64
	Linux
	Darwin
	Windows
ARM64
	Linux
	Darwin

Package Binary Source from

Repackaged from Official Source
• https://github.com/x-cmd-build/lf/releases

Related Link

Module

`x pkg` => usage