tui-file-explorer 0.3.9

A self-contained, keyboard-driven file-browser widget for Ratatui
Documentation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
//! # tfe — two-pane terminal file explorer
//!
//! A keyboard-driven dual-pane file manager.
//!
//! ## Shell integration
//!
//! Add the wrapper function to your shell rc file so that dismissing `tfe`
//! automatically `cd`s the terminal to the pane's current directory:
//!
//! ```bash
//! # bash / zsh — put this in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
//! tfe() {
//!     local dir
//!     dir=$(command tfe "$@")
//!     [ -n "$dir" ] && cd "$dir"
//! }
//! ```
//!
//! ```fish
//! # fish — put this in ~/.config/fish/functions/tfe.fish
//! function tfe
//!     set dir (command tfe $argv)
//!     if test -n "$dir"
//!         cd $dir
//!     end
//! end
//! ```
//!
//! Other examples:
//!
//! ```bash
//! tfe | xargs -r $EDITOR           # open selected file in $EDITOR
//! tfe -e rs | pbcopy               # copy a .rs path to the clipboard
//! tfe --theme catppuccin-mocha     # choose a colour theme
//! tfe --single-pane                # start in single-pane mode
//! tfe --show-themes                # open theme panel on startup
//! tfe --list-themes                # list all themes and exit
//! tfe --editor nvim                # set editor for the e key
//! tfe --editor "code --wait"       # custom editor (quoted)
//! ```
//!
//! Exit codes:
//!   0 — path printed to stdout (file selected, or dismissed with a current dir)
//!   2 — bad arguments / I/O error

mod app;
mod fs;
mod persistence;
mod shell_init;
mod ui;

use app::Editor;

use std::{
    io::{self, stdout, Write},
    path::PathBuf,
    process,
};

use clap::Parser;
use crossterm::{
    event::{DisableMouseCapture, EnableMouseCapture},
    execute,
    terminal::{disable_raw_mode, enable_raw_mode, EnterAlternateScreen, LeaveAlternateScreen},
};
use ratatui::{backend::CrosstermBackend, Terminal};
use tui_file_explorer::Theme;

use app::App;
use fs::resolve_output_path;
use ui::draw;

// ── CLI ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

#[derive(Parser)]
#[command(
    name = "tfe",
    version,
    about = "Keyboard-driven two-pane terminal file explorer",
    after_help = "\
SHELL INTEGRATION (cd on exit):\n\
  Step 1 — enable the feature (persisted across sessions):\n\
    tfe --cd\n\
\n\
  Step 2 — install the shell wrapper (one time):\n\
    tfe --init bash        # ~/.bashrc\n\
    tfe --init zsh         # ~/.zshrc\n\
    tfe --init fish        # ~/.config/fish/functions/tfe.fish\n\
    tfe --init powershell  # $PROFILE (Windows / cross-platform PowerShell)\n\
\n\
  After both steps, dismissing tfe with Esc/q cd's your terminal to the\n\
  directory you were browsing.  Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows.\n\
\n\
  Open selected file in $EDITOR:     command tfe | xargs -r $EDITOR\n\
  NUL-delimited output:              command tfe -0 | xargs -0 wc -l"
)]
struct Cli {
    /// Starting directory [default: current directory]
    #[arg(value_name = "PATH")]
    path: Option<PathBuf>,

    /// Only show/select files with these extensions (repeatable: -e rs -e toml)
    #[arg(short, long = "ext", value_name = "EXT", action = clap::ArgAction::Append)]
    extensions: Vec<String>,

    /// Show hidden (dot-file) entries on startup
    #[arg(short = 'H', long)]
    hidden: bool,

    /// Colour theme [default: persisted selection, or "default"]. Use --list-themes to see options.
    #[arg(short, long, value_name = "THEME")]
    theme: Option<String>,

    /// List all available themes and exit
    #[arg(long)]
    list_themes: bool,

    /// Open the theme panel on startup (toggle at runtime with T)
    #[arg(long)]
    show_themes: bool,

    /// Start in single-pane mode (toggle at runtime with w)
    #[arg(long)]
    single_pane: bool,

    /// Print the selected file's parent directory instead of the full path
    #[arg(long)]
    print_dir: bool,

    /// Terminate output with a NUL byte instead of a newline
    #[arg(short = '0', long)]
    null: bool,

    /// Install the shell wrapper for cd-on-exit integration and exit.
    ///
    /// Appends the wrapper function to your rc file (creating it if needed)
    /// and prints instructions.  Supported shells: bash, zsh, fish, powershell.
    /// Examples: tfe --init zsh   tfe --init powershell
    #[arg(long, value_name = "SHELL")]
    init: Option<String>,

    /// Enable cd-on-exit: on dismiss, print the active pane's current directory
    /// to stdout so the shell wrapper can cd to it.  The setting is persisted —
    /// run once to enable, run with --no-cd to disable.
    #[arg(long = "cd", overrides_with = "no_cd")]
    cd_on_exit: bool,

    /// Disable cd-on-exit (persisted).  Dismissing without a selection will
    /// print nothing and exit with code 1.
    #[arg(long = "no-cd", overrides_with = "cd_on_exit")]
    no_cd: bool,

    /// Editor to open when pressing `e` on a file.
    ///
    /// Accepted values: helix (hx), nvim, vim, nano, micro, or any binary
    /// name / path.  Overrides the persisted setting for this session only.
    ///
    /// Examples:
    ///   tfe --editor nvim
    ///   tfe --editor vim
    ///   tfe --editor "code --wait"
    #[arg(long, value_name = "EDITOR")]
    editor: Option<String>,
}

// ── Entry point ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

fn main() {
    if let Err(e) = run() {
        eprintln!("tfe: {e}");
        process::exit(2);
    }
}

fn run() -> io::Result<()> {
    let cli = Cli::parse();

    // --init: install the shell wrapper (or print it as fallback) then exit.
    if let Some(ref shell_name) = cli.init {
        let shell = match shell_init::Shell::from_str(shell_name) {
            Some(s) => Some(s),
            None => {
                eprintln!("tfe: unrecognised shell '{shell_name}'. Supported: bash, zsh, fish");
                process::exit(2);
            }
        };
        use shell_init::InitOutcome;
        match shell_init::install_or_print(shell) {
            InitOutcome::Installed(path) => {
                eprintln!("tfe: shell integration installed to {}", path.display());
                eprintln!("Restart your shell or run: source {}", path.display());
            }
            InitOutcome::AlreadyInstalled(path) => {
                eprintln!(
                    "tfe: shell integration already present in {}",
                    path.display()
                );
            }
            InitOutcome::PrintedToStdout | InitOutcome::UnknownShell => {
                // Diagnostic already printed by install_or_print.
            }
        }
        return Ok(());
    }

    let themes = Theme::all_presets();

    // --list-themes: print catalogue and exit.
    if cli.list_themes {
        let max = themes.iter().map(|(n, _, _)| n.len()).max().unwrap_or(0);
        println!("{:<width$}  DESCRIPTION", "THEME", width = max);
        println!("{}", "\u{2500}".repeat(max + 52));
        for (name, desc, _) in &themes {
            println!("{name:<width$}  {desc}", width = max);
        }
        return Ok(());
    }

    // Load all persisted state once at startup.
    let saved = persistence::load_state();

    // Priority: explicit --theme flag > persisted selection > built-in default.
    let theme_name = cli
        .theme
        .or_else(|| saved.theme.clone())
        .unwrap_or_else(|| "default".to_string());
    let theme_idx = persistence::resolve_theme_idx(&theme_name, &themes);

    // Priority: explicit --path arg > persisted last directory > cwd.
    let start_dir = match cli.path {
        Some(ref p) => {
            let c = p.canonicalize().unwrap_or_else(|_| p.clone());
            if c.is_dir() {
                c
            } else {
                eprintln!("tfe: {:?} is not a directory", p);
                process::exit(2);
            }
        }
        None => saved
            .last_dir
            .clone()
            .unwrap_or_else(|| std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from("/"))),
    };

    // Right pane: use the persisted right-pane directory when available,
    // otherwise mirror the left pane's starting directory.
    let right_start_dir = saved
        .last_dir_right
        .clone()
        .unwrap_or_else(|| start_dir.clone());

    // CLI flags win when explicitly set (true); otherwise fall back to
    // persisted values.  Simple bool flags can't distinguish "not passed" from
    // "passed as false", so the convention is: CLI `true` always wins.
    let show_hidden = if cli.hidden {
        true
    } else {
        saved.show_hidden.unwrap_or(false)
    };
    let single_pane = if cli.single_pane {
        true
    } else {
        saved.single_pane.unwrap_or(false)
    };
    let sort_mode = saved.sort_mode.unwrap_or_default();

    // Resolve cd-on-exit: CLI flags take priority, then persisted value.
    let cd_on_exit = if cli.cd_on_exit {
        true
    } else if cli.no_cd {
        false
    } else {
        saved.cd_on_exit.unwrap_or(false)
    };

    // Resolve editor: CLI flag > persisted value > compiled-in default (Helix).
    let editor = if let Some(ref raw) = cli.editor {
        Editor::from_key(raw).unwrap_or_else(|| Editor::Custom(raw.clone()))
    } else if let Some(ref raw) = saved.editor {
        Editor::from_key(raw).unwrap_or_default()
    } else {
        Editor::default()
    };

    // Terminal setup.
    //
    // Render the TUI on stderr rather than stdout.  This works on all
    // platforms (Unix, macOS, Windows) without any platform-specific code:
    //
    // * The shell wrapper captures stdout with `dir=$(command tfe)`.
    //   stderr is never captured by $() so the TUI renders correctly.
    // * On Windows, stderr is connected to the console just like stdout,
    //   so crossterm's raw-mode and alternate-screen work without needing
    //   CONOUT$ or any other Windows-specific console API.
    // * The final directory/file path is written to real stdout after the
    //   TUI exits, where the shell wrapper's $() captures it correctly.
    let backend = CrosstermBackend::new(io::stderr());

    enable_raw_mode()?;
    execute!(io::stderr(), EnterAlternateScreen, EnableMouseCapture)?;

    let mut terminal = Terminal::new(backend)?;

    let mut app = App::new(app::AppOptions {
        left_dir: start_dir,
        right_dir: right_start_dir,
        extensions: cli.extensions,
        show_hidden,
        theme_idx,
        show_theme_panel: cli.show_themes,
        single_pane,
        sort_mode,
        cd_on_exit,
        editor,
    });

    let result = run_loop(&mut terminal, &mut app);

    // Always restore terminal, even on error.
    let _ = disable_raw_mode();
    let _ = execute!(
        terminal.backend_mut(),
        LeaveAlternateScreen,
        DisableMouseCapture
    );
    let _ = terminal.show_cursor();
    // Drop the terminal before writing to stdout so the alternate screen is
    // fully restored before the path appears.
    drop(terminal);

    result?;

    // Persist full application state on clean exit.
    //
    // When single-pane mode is active the right pane is hidden and its
    // current_dir was never independently navigated — it still mirrors the
    // left pane's starting directory.  Blindly saving it would clobber the
    // real last_dir_right that was loaded at startup, so in that case we
    // re-use whatever was previously persisted instead.
    let last_dir_right = if app.single_pane {
        // Preserve the value we loaded at startup (may be None if this is a
        // fresh install or the path was deleted).
        saved.last_dir_right.clone()
    } else {
        Some(app.right.current_dir.clone())
    };

    persistence::save_state(&persistence::AppState {
        theme: Some(app.theme_name().to_string()),
        last_dir: Some(app.left.current_dir.clone()),
        last_dir_right,
        sort_mode: Some(app.left.sort_mode),
        show_hidden: Some(app.left.show_hidden),
        single_pane: Some(app.single_pane),
        // Always persist the final value from app — this captures both CLI
        // flags (--cd / --no-cd) and any in-TUI toggle via the O panel / C key.
        cd_on_exit: Some(app.cd_on_exit),
        // Persist whichever editor the user ended up on (including any cycling
        // done through the options panel).
        editor: Some(app.editor.to_key()),
    });

    // Emit a path to stdout so a shell wrapper can act on it (e.g. `cd`).
    //
    // * File selected            -> always emit the selected path (or its parent
    //                               with --print-dir), exit 0.
    // * Dismissed + cd_on_exit   -> emit the active pane's current directory so
    //                               the shell wrapper can `cd` there, exit 0.
    // * Dismissed + !cd_on_exit  -> print nothing, exit 1 (classic behaviour).
    match app.selected {
        Some(path) => {
            let output = resolve_output_path(path, cli.print_dir);
            let mut out = stdout();
            write!(out, "{}", output.display())?;
            out.write_all(if cli.null { b"\0" } else { b"\n" })?;
            out.flush()?;
        }
        // Use app.cd_on_exit — reflects both CLI flags and any in-TUI toggle.
        None if app.cd_on_exit => {
            let output = app.active_pane().current_dir.clone();
            let mut out = stdout();
            write!(out, "{}", output.display())?;
            out.write_all(if cli.null { b"\0" } else { b"\n" })?;
            out.flush()?;
        }
        None => process::exit(1),
    }

    Ok(())
}

fn run_loop<W: io::Write>(
    terminal: &mut Terminal<CrosstermBackend<W>>,
    app: &mut App,
) -> io::Result<()> {
    loop {
        terminal.draw(|frame| draw(app, frame))?;

        if app.handle_event()? {
            break;
        }

        // ── Editor launch ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
        // `handle_event` sets `open_with_editor` when the user presses `e` on
        // a file.  We handle it here (in run_loop) because we need access to
        // the Terminal to tear it down and restore it.
        if let Some(path) = app.open_with_editor.take() {
            // Defensive guard: Editor::None should never set open_with_editor,
            // but if it somehow does, silently discard and move on.
            if let Some(binary) = app.editor.binary() {
                let binary = binary.to_string();
                let editor_label = app.editor.label().to_string();

                // 1. Tear down the TUI so the editor gets a clean terminal.
                let _ = disable_raw_mode();
                let _ = execute!(io::stderr(), LeaveAlternateScreen, DisableMouseCapture);

                // 2. Spawn the editor synchronously and wait for it to exit.
                let status = std::process::Command::new(&binary).arg(&path).status();

                // 3. Restore the TUI regardless of whether the editor succeeded.
                let _ = enable_raw_mode();
                let _ = execute!(io::stderr(), EnterAlternateScreen, EnableMouseCapture);
                let _ = terminal.clear();

                // 4. Reload both panes so any on-disk changes are visible.
                app.left.reload();
                app.right.reload();

                // 5. Set a status message.
                match status {
                    Ok(s) if s.success() => {
                        let fname = path
                            .file_name()
                            .unwrap_or_default()
                            .to_string_lossy()
                            .into_owned();
                        app.status_msg = format!("Returned from {editor_label} \u{2014} {fname}");
                    }
                    Ok(s) => {
                        app.status_msg =
                            format!("Editor exited with status {}", s.code().unwrap_or(-1));
                    }
                    Err(e) => {
                        app.status_msg = format!("Error launching '{binary}': {e}");
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
    Ok(())
}