Ranger is an open source console based file manager that gives users greater flexibility and a good overview of files without having to leave the *nix console. It visualizes the directory tree in two dimensions: the directory hierarchy on one, lists of files on the other, with a preview to the right so you know where you will be going.
The default keys are similar to those of Vim, Emacs and Midnight Commander, though Ranger is easily controllable with just the arrow keys or the mouse.
After starting Ranger, you can use the arrow keys (or hjkl) to navigate, Enter to open a file or type Q to quit. The third column shows a preview of the current file. The second is the main column and the first shows the parent directory. The program is written in Python and uses curses for the text-based user interface.
It comes bundled with rifle, a file launcher that automatically determines which program to use for each file type.
Key Features
- Quick way to switch directories and browse the file system.
- Multi-pane view. It displays the current directory of all the open tabs next to each other.
- Integration into the unix shell.
- Multi-column display.
- Preview of the selected file/directory.
- Common file operations (create / chmod / copy / delete /…).
- VIM-like console and hotkeys.
- Macros which can be used in commands to abbreviate things.
- Automatically determine file types and run them with correct programs.
- Change the directory of your shell after exiting Ranger.
- Tags.
- Bookmarks.
- Mouse support.
- Midnight Commander-like bindings.
- Change the directory of your shell after exiting Ranger.
- UTF-8 Support.
- Run Ranger in a Docker container.
Website: ranger.github.io
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Wojciech Siewierski, nfnty, Toon Nolten, hut, and many other contributors
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

Ranger is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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