nnn: Browse and Manage Files in the Terminal

Overview

nnn is a terminal file manager written in C. It helps command-line users navigate directories and handle common file tasks in one interface, with a focus on speed, low resource use, and minimal configuration.

It is a good fit for people who prefer keyboard-driven work or need a file manager in a CLI-only environment. Its core can be extended with plugins, while its many options also mean new users may want to consult the documentation to learn the workflows that suit them.

Key Features

• Navigate directories with filtering, type-to-navigate, contexts, sessions, bookmarks, and directory visits.
• Search and filter names using string, fuzzy, or regular-expression matching.
• Inspect and sort files, including a disk-usage analysis mode.
• Select, copy, move, rename, duplicate, delete, archive, and link files from the interface.
• Preview directories and text files, with plugins available for additional previews and media thumbnails.
• Launch applications, run commands, or open a shell from the file manager.
• Extend workflows with language-agnostic plugins and optional patches.

Use Cases

• Developers can browse project trees, select files, and launch editors or commands without switching away from the terminal.
• System administrators can inspect directories and disk usage on machines where a graphical file manager is unavailable or inconvenient.
• Keyboard-oriented users can manage files with filtering, contexts, and bookmarks instead of repeated shell commands.
• Users on supported platforms such as Android through Termux, Raspberry Pi, or WSL can use a terminal-based file manager in varied environments.

Getting Started

Install nnn using a package manager or another method listed in the installation guide, then run nnn. See the README for the quickstart, shell integration, configuration, and plugin setup.

Considerations

• nnn is a terminal application, so it requires a terminal environment and familiarity with keyboard-driven navigation.
• Its core is designed to work with minimal configuration, but plugins and some workflows may require additional tools or setup. For example, remote mounts require sshfs or rclone.
• The README describes support across multiple platforms, but installation steps and available dependencies can vary by platform.