ranger

Ranger is a console file manager that brings Vi-style key bindings to file system navigation, offering a minimalistic and efficient curses-based interface. It displays the directory hierarchy in a multi-column view, with the first column showing the parent directory, the main column for current directory navigation, and a third column providing previews of selected files. The tool includes rifle, an intelligent file launcher that automatically determines the appropriate program to use for different file types.

Designed with Unix philosophy in mind, ranger aims to do one thing exceptionally well while maintaining easy integration with the shell environment. It supports common file operations like creating, copying, deleting, and batch renaming files, along with features like tabs, bookmarks, and mouse support. The tool can automatically change your shell's directory when exiting, making it seamlessly integrated into command-line workflows.

Ranger is ideal for developers, system administrators, and power users who prefer keyboard-driven navigation and want a lightweight alternative to GUI file managers. Its extensive customization options and plugin system make it particularly appealing to users who appreciate the efficiency of Vi-style keybindings and want a file manager that can be tailored to their specific workflow needs.

Installation

# via Package Manager
Use your OS package manager to install ranger

# via pip
pip install ranger-fm

# via pipx
pipx run --spec ranger-fm ranger