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4.7 star rating
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Development
Productivity
What are the best terminal file managers for developers?
9
Options
Considered
33
User
Recs.
Jan 30, 2024
Last
Updated
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9
Options
Considered
Best terminal file managers for developers
Price
Platforms
License
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nnn
-
Linux, macOS, Termux, Raspberry Pi
BSD-2-Clause
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Midnight Commander
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Windows, Mac, Linux
-
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Vifm
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-
-
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clifm
0
-
-
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ranger
-
-
-
See Full List
--
nnn
My Rec
ommendation
for
nnn
My Recommendation for
nnn
All
6
Pros
5
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Multiple plugins useful for developers
Has plugins for hex viewing, directory and file diff, upload text to pastebin, upload files to transfer.sh, split/join large files.
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Specs
Platforms:
Linux, macOS, Termux, Raspberry Pi
License:
BSD-2-Clause
Top
Pro
•••
Supports a number of operations on a group of selected files
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Top
Pro
•••
Vim/neovim file picker plugin
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Top
Pro
•••
Superfast
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Top
Pro
•••
SSHFS support for working with remote mounts
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Hide
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Get it
here
Recommend
13
--
Midnight Commander
My Rec
ommendation
for
Midnight Commander
My Recommendation for
Midnight Commander
All
7
Pros
6
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Easy to use
Midnight commander is easy and intuitive to use. The most common commands are displayed in the bottom (move, copy, paste, delete, edit, view, make directory). Files can be selected with the arrow keys which move the cursor through them. The Enter key goes down in a directory. To move the focus between two panels the tab key is used.
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Specs
Platforms:
Windows, Mac, Linux
Technology:
C
Top
Pro
•••
Stable
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Top
Pro
•••
Lightweight
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Top
Pro
•••
Can be run in the terminal 
Being a terminal application means that it's suited for people who spend most of their time on the terminal because they don't have to switch windows in order to open their file manager. It also means that they can use it both locally and remotely.
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Top
Pro
•••
Intuitive interface
Midnight commander uses the full screen of the terminal in a very efficient way. It displays two panels for files horizontally. On the bottom it has the most useful commands with their corresponding key attached. All of this makes for a very intuitive interface both for beginners and experienced users.
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Top
Pro
•••
Often available in default repository
And hence easy to install by usually package manager.
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Hide
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Get it
here
Recommend
5
--
Vifm
My Rec
ommendation
for
Vifm
My Recommendation for
Vifm
All
10
Experiences
1
Pros
6
Cons
3
Top
Con
•••
Useless for non-vi users
Even to quit one has to use :q .
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Top
Pro
•••
Great integration with vim
The vifm.vim plugin allows you to use vifm as a powerful filepicker for vim.
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André Pereira's Experience
Awesome filemanager, fast and reliable.
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Top
Con
•••
Very high learning curve for newbies
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Top
Pro
•••
Configurable
You can easily configure almost all aspects of vifm by just editing the dotfile which is pretty easy is you are comfortable with configuring apps.
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Top
Con
•••
Can only be used in terminal 
Vifm lacks a standalone GUI option.
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Top
Pro
•••
Easily integrate with the operating system
Even operating system commands can be mapped.
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Top
Pro
•••
Undo
Changes can be easily undone by just typing "u" .
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Top
Pro
•••
Allows you to stay in the terminal
Since it runs in a terminal, it may live within ssh sessions, tmux/screen sessions, etc.
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Top
Pro
•••
Default key mappings will be comfortable to vim users  
Vifm uses vim-esque key mappings. Makes for extremely efficient and---perhaps more importantly---intuitive interactions. The key mappings can be changed.
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Get it
here
Recommend
5
3
--
clifm
My Rec
ommendation
for
clifm
My Recommendation for
clifm
All
1
Experiences
1
BrightAlLat's Experience
If you are used to the command line, Clifm is simple, fast, and incredibly powerful.
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Hide
0
Recommend
1
--
ranger
My Rec
ommendation
for
ranger
My Recommendation for
ranger
All
4
Pros
3
Cons
1
Top
Pro
•••
Minimalist and efficient
There is no need for icons of files if headings are used. Previews of text documents and a simple design creates and efficient workflow.
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Top
Con
•••
No way to calculate folder size
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Top
Pro
•••
Vim-like bindings
Ranger has Vim-like keybindings which help a lot in increasing efficiency and speed up the workflow.
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Top
Pro
•••
Can be used in terminal
Which makes for a good choice of file explorer for those that use machines without a GUI.
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Hide
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Get it
here
Recommend
1
--
lf
My Rec
ommendation
for
lf
My Recommendation for
lf
Hide
FREE
Recommend
2
--
fff (Fucking Fast File-Manager)
My Rec
ommendation
for
fff (Fucking Fast File-Manager)
My Recommendation for
fff (Fucking Fast File-Manager)
All
2
Experiences
1
Pros
1
Top
Pro
•••
Fast
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PerceptiveMastorpaz's Experience
good
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Hide
FREE
Recommend
1
--
df-show
My Rec
ommendation
for
df-show
My Recommendation for
df-show
All
2
Pros
1
Cons
1
Top
Con
•••
Single column directory browsing
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Top
Pro
•••
Simple to use
Emulates the output of ls, with interactive options.
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Hide
Free
Recommend
2
--
clex
My Rec
ommendation
for
clex
My Recommendation for
clex
Hide
FREE
Recommend
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