File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

azerty · 2007-09-01 09:38:00

I'm currently searching a simple, lightweight, shell-based file-browser. I'm not searching a file-manager, too much bloat in it. I don't want to manage my files through a file-manager, I prefer to use cp, mv, vi/nano etc..

I just want a file-browser which I can use to browse directories on my system through an ncurses-based interface.
It should just show me the content of a directory and give me a one-line CLI-Prompt at the bottom as the Midnight Commander does, so I can execute my commands (cp, mv, vi/nano etc..) directly from the file-browser

Do you know ncmpc? Or cplay?
I'm searching a file-browser with an interface which resembles the one ncmpc and/or cplay uses.

If you know something like that what I'm searching, drop me a line.

Last edited by azerty (2007-09-04 10:24:34)

shining · 2007-09-01 09:55:48

midnight commander (mc in current or mc-utf8 in community).

azerty · 2007-09-01 11:38:31

Thanks for the sugestion but Midnight Commander isn't what I'm searching. It's too bloated, I don't want to manage my files through a menu and edit them via MC's editor.

I just want 'ls with ncurses' and at the bottom a CLI-Prompt for direct input of cp, mv, chown, chmod vi/nano etc..
It's really simple, isn't there anything like that out there?

Last edited by azerty (2007-09-01 11:39:01)

shamrok · 2007-09-01 12:47:00

Maybe Vifm will be good for you.

azerty · 2007-09-02 11:35:46

Too sad, but also Vifm isn't what I'm searching.
As I didn't manage to find something which seems to fit my needs, I'm going to try coding that thingy myself.

If there's success you'll here from me..

Last edited by azerty (2007-09-02 11:37:58)

Gilneas · 2007-09-02 12:15:56

Why not just run an mc-like ls after cd'ing?
I use this: ls -l -a --color=auto -h -F --group-directories-first
Which I have aliased to just l

azerty · 2007-09-02 12:41:13

At first I thought about using blank cd/ls (like you suggested) to navigate through my system, however I think my geek'nes currently don't goes that far. At the moment I need something to make the transition from GUI file management to text-mode file management, so I need some visual output I can navigate through.

I just exactly found what I am searching: Clex

I think I'll stay with Clex one or two months, after that I'll probably end with using cd/ls as a few people I know already do.

Last edited by azerty (2007-09-02 12:41:59)

lang2 · 2007-09-02 22:48:35

clex works pretty nicely for me too. It's just a littel slow to startup.

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-03 07:36:28

Hello,

in the good old days when I used IBM OS/2 ther had been a small programm inspired by the dired-mode of emacs. Maybe its just what you want. Though -- it's from 1997!

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/ … red305.zip

azerty · 2007-09-04 10:10:17

Gilneas wrote:

Why not just run an mc-like ls after cd'ing?
I use this: ls -l -a --color=auto -h -F --group-directories-first
Which I have aliased to just l

I played around with different tools in the last days and I found out some things which can be useful.

Possibility 1:
'~$: ls -l -a --color=auto -h -F --group-directories-first | w3m'

In this case w3m is used as pager for displaying a directory's content.
But one could also use 'more', 'less' or simply '~$: ls -l -a --color=auto -h -F --group-directories-first' without any pager.

Possibility 2:
'~$: w3m <path/to/dir>'

By default this gives you a full dual panel view with browse-able ('click-able') directories, content listing and viewing (not editing AFAIK) the content of text files.
You're even able to customize the panel-, format- and sorting-type by simply using 3 selection fields at the top.

I think using w3m as directory pager and file viewer *could* be a compromise between the blank ls and a more powerful file browser.

Possibility 3:
'~$: lynx <path/to/dir>'

More powerful than w3m with (at least) the same customization possibilities.
Additionally you can specify a default editor (e.g. Vi, Nano etc.) in the lynx config, after this you're able to select a text file and [ENTER] to open your preferred editor and view/modify the selected file. Modify it, save, quit the editor and continue browsing your system with lynx. Lynx' capabilities go even further: You can create, modify (move/rename) and delete directories.

Amazing, don't you think?
Unix and its abilities to combine different tools for a specific task never ceases to amaze me.

Last edited by azerty (2007-09-04 10:35:16)

shining · 2007-09-04 10:17:23

In this case, why not using directly a text editor like vim or emacs ?
At least both these have a similar behavior.

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-04 13:26:00

Stefan Husmann wrote:

Hello,
in the good old days when I used IBM OS/2 ther had been a small programm inspired by the dired-mode of emacs. Maybe its just what you want. Though -- it's from 1997!
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/ … red305.zip

Sorry the zipfile at the above link is broken.
For those who want to test dired here is another link. http://fresh.t-systems-sfr.com/linux/src/dired305.zip

azerty · 2007-09-04 15:12:54

shining wrote:

In this case, why not using directly a text editor like vim or emacs ?
At least both these have a similar behavior.

Does vim actually have a built-in file browser? Or did you mean vifm?

Concerning Emacs, I know there's is something called 'dired-mode' which brings some file browsing capabilities to Emacs. Even if I think that Emacs is quite interesting, but installing an entire OS err I mean Emacs just to get some basic file browsing seems to be bit exaggerated.

Stefan Husmann wrote:

Stefan Husmann wrote:
Hello,
in the good old days when I used IBM OS/2 ther had been a small programm inspired by the dired-mode of emacs. Maybe its just what you want. Though -- it's from 1997!
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/ … red305.zip
Sorry the zipfile at the above link is broken.
For those who want to test dired here is another link. http://fresh.t-systems-sfr.com/linux/src/dired305.zip

Could you post a screenshot of this tool, please?

shining · 2007-09-04 15:44:55

azerty wrote:

Does vim actually have a built-in file browser? Or did you mean vifm?

I just tried what you did with w3m/lynx with vim/emacs.

FeatherMonkey · 2007-09-04 15:50:13

I've got this in vim with :Texplore

Now I confess I'm a newbie with Vim and I haven't got a clue whether this is default or associated to the taglist plugin I'm using.

azerty · 2007-09-04 16:12:41

@ shining

Didn't know that vi has an built-in file browser until you've said it. That's actually a cool feature.
What did you use for emacs? dired or something other?

@ FeatherMonkey
I think it's built-in by default, cause I'm using vi without any plugins and ':Texplore' works right for me.

I'm suprised how much hidden functionality we have in everyday software, lets find some more

FeatherMonkey · 2007-09-04 16:18:03

I tried on another OS but didn't get it as for Vim it loses me still learning that mystery. I'm not even sure where I got that from, I even tried googling to see where I picked it up from.

Just was in my vim history after playing the other day.
I've got plenty more to discover with this vim.

Edit
:Explore does it to, on both OS's

Last edited by FeatherMonkey (2007-09-04 16:41:36)

shining · 2007-09-04 17:45:13

azerty wrote:

@ shining
Didn't know that vi has an built-in file browser until you've said it. That's actually a cool feature.
What did you use for emacs? dired or something other?
@ FeatherMonkey
I think it's built-in by default, cause I'm using vi without any plugins and ':Texplore' works right for me.
I'm suprised how much hidden functionality we have in everyday software, lets find some more

No, same for emacs, nothing particular, I just did "emacs /path/to/dir"

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-05 11:49:42

azerty wrote:

Could you post a screenshot of this tool, please?

Actually I got it compiled last night using a PKGBUILD, but please be patient, I'm am not at home now. I will post it in the evening.

It looks a little weird. Maybe because I had to remove some library-concerning stuff (-lbsd -ltermcap) and to add -lncurses. I am no programmer, so I don't know if this is the recommended way to handle such problems (I have no termcap- and bsd-library and do not know where to get it).

But it works, at least browsing, opening and deleting of files.

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-05 12:46:15

Stefan Husmann wrote:

azerty wrote:
Could you post a screenshot of this tool, please?
Actually I got it compiled last night using a PKGBUILD, but please be patient, I'm am not at home now. I will post it in the evening.
It looks a little weird. Maybe because I had to remove some library-concerning stuff (-lbsd -ltermcap) and to add -lncurses. I am no programmer, so I don't know if this is the recommended way to handle such problems (I have no termcap- and bsd-library and do not know where to get it).
But it works, at least browsing, opening and deleting of files.

Oops, there is a package termcap-compat. I will give it a try!

azerty · 2007-09-05 13:58:48

Stefan Husmann wrote:

azerty wrote:
Could you post a screenshot of this tool, please?
Actually I got it compiled last night using a PKGBUILD, but please be patient, I'm am not at home now. I will post it in the evening.
It looks a little weird. Maybe because I had to remove some library-concerning stuff (-lbsd -ltermcap) and to add -lncurses. I am no programmer, so I don't know if this is the recommended way to handle such problems (I have no termcap- and bsd-library and do not know where to get it).
But it works, at least browsing, opening and deleting of files.

You said this program dates from the last century (OS/2), I think it's nothing suprising that old programs look a bit 'different'.
Just a question, where did get that thing? Did you download it or is it your own work?

No Problem, I'll patiently wait here. :-D

lang2 · 2007-09-05 16:01:33

There is actually a Vim plugin call vimcommander, which implements a two pane MC like interface:

http://vim.sourceforge.net/scripts/scri … ipt_id=808

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-06 07:21:45

Hello,

when I promised to post the screenshots i did not know that no binaries can be uploaded here. Please write an E-Mail if anyone wants them.

azerty · 2007-09-06 11:25:39

Why not simply upload it at imageshack.us? Or any other free hosting service..

Stefan Husmann · 2007-09-06 15:04:38

azerty wrote:

Why not simply upload it at imageshack.us? Or any other free hosting service..

Good idea! Never did o before, but it's easy.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-09-01 09:38:00

File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#2 2007-09-01 09:55:48

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#3 2007-09-01 11:38:31

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#4 2007-09-01 12:47:00

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#5 2007-09-02 11:35:46

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#6 2007-09-02 12:15:56

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#7 2007-09-02 12:41:13

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#8 2007-09-02 22:48:35

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#9 2007-09-03 07:36:28

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#10 2007-09-04 10:10:17

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#11 2007-09-04 10:17:23

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#12 2007-09-04 13:26:00

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#13 2007-09-04 15:12:54

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#14 2007-09-04 15:44:55

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#15 2007-09-04 15:50:13

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#16 2007-09-04 16:12:41

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#17 2007-09-04 16:18:03

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#18 2007-09-04 17:45:13

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#19 2007-09-05 11:49:42

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#20 2007-09-05 12:46:15

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#21 2007-09-05 13:58:48

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#22 2007-09-05 16:01:33

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#23 2007-09-06 07:21:45

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#24 2007-09-06 11:25:39

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

#25 2007-09-06 15:04:38

Re: File Browsing for Freaks (i.e. 'advanced users')

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