fm is a terminal-based file manager with a dual-pane interface and an emphasis on attractive file previews. It provides an alternative to graphical file managers for users who spend much of their time working in a terminal.
The application combines conventional directory navigation with the ability to inspect different file formats without launching a separate graphical viewer. It is particularly useful when browsing source code, Markdown documents, PDF files, and images.
The interface adjusts to changes in terminal dimensions and offers both keyboard and mouse interaction. Users can customise its appearance through themes and configure how source code is highlighted.
fm also integrates with external text editors, allowing files to be opened in the editor specified by the user’s environment.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Dual-pane interface for browsing files and directories.
- File icons for distinguishing different types of content.
- Responsive layout that adjusts automatically when the terminal is resized.
- Syntax highlighting for source code with configurable Chroma highlighting themes.
- Formatted Markdown previews through Glamour.
- PDF file viewing from within the terminal interface.
- PNG and JPEG image previews rendered as text representations.
- Mouse support for interacting with the interface.
- Customisable colour themes, including default, Gruvbox, and Nord.
- Colour handling that adapts to light and dark terminal backgrounds.
- Integration with the editor specified by the EDITOR environment variable.
- Copy the path of a selected file or directory to the clipboard.
- Option to start the file manager in a specified directory.
- File selection mode that writes the selected path to a specified output file.
- Configurable display of icons, Markdown formatting, and syntax highlighting.
Website: github.com/mistakenelf/fm
Support:
Developer: Tyler Knipfer
License: MIT License

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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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