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cfiles
cfiles · founded 2018
What it is
cfiles is a free terminal file manager written in C with ncurses and vim-like keybindings. It targets a ranger-like interface while keeping the program lightweight, fast, and minimal, and runs on Linux and macOS. Navigation uses h, j, k, and l, with shortcuts for top, middle, bottom, and page scrolling. The f and F keys search through fzf, while S opens a shell in the current directory. A selection list handles copying, moving, renaming, sending files to trash, and removing files. Preview support covers images, media information, archives, and PDFs through external dependencies. Users can save bookmarks and run executable scripts from the configured cfiles directory. Dependencies include ncursesw, fzf, w3mimgdisplay or Überzug, mediainfo, atool, and pdftoppm. Trash deletion requires a specific directory. Clipboard and bookmarks use XDG_CONFIG_HOME or $HOME/.config. It is MIT-licensed software dating to 2018.
For and against
For
- Linux and macOS support
- Vim-like keyboard navigation
- Copy, move, rename, and trash operations
- Image, archive, media, and PDF previews
- MIT License permits broad reuse
Against
- Requires several external dependencies
- Trash directory must already exist
- Preview tools have documented limitations
- Terminal-focused interface may require command-line familiarity
The verdict
cfiles offers a compact, keyboard-driven file manager with broad preview and shell features. Setup depends on external tools, and preview behavior varies with the selected backend.
Who it suits
cfiles suits Linux and macOS users comfortable with terminal workflows and vim-style controls. It is useful when previews, shell access, bookmarks, and script execution are wanted in one file manager.
Plans and prices
cfiles
Free software under the MIT License
Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Bookmarks and scripts
- Users can store bookmarks and run executable external scripts from the configured cfiles directory.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- The README lists ncursesw, cp and mv, fzf, w3mimgdisplay or Überzug, mediainfo, atool, and poppler's pdftoppm as dependencies.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Design goal
- The project aims to provide an interface like ranger while being lightweight, fast, and minimal.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- File operations
- The selection list supports copying, moving, renaming, moving files to trash, and removing selected files.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The software is licensed under the MIT License, which grants permission to use, copy, modify, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies subject to its terms.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Linux support
- Yesgithub.com · read 21 Sep 2026
- Local storage
- The clipboard and bookmarks use the cfiles directory under XDG_CONFIG_HOME, falling back to $HOME/.config when XDG_CONFIG_HOME is unset.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- macOS support
- Yesgithub.com · read 21 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The license file credits Manan Singh with copyright in 2018.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Navigation
- It supports h, j, k, and l navigation keys and offers top, middle, bottom, and page scrolling shortcuts.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Preview limitation
- Überzug cannot generate previews for MP3 album art and has nonfunctional arrow-key scrolling, while w3mimgdisplay previews may disappear when resizing the terminal or changing workspaces.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Preview pane
- Yesgithub.com · read 21 Sep 2026
- Previews and metadata
- It can show image previews, media information, archive previews, and PDF previews using listed external dependencies.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- cfiles is a terminal file manager written in C with vim-like keybindings and the ncurses library.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Search and shell
- The f and F keys search with fzf, and S opens a shell in the current directory.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Trash requirement
- The README says $HOME/.local/share/Trash/files must exist before deleting a file to trash.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026