PTUI – terminal-based image viewer

PTUI, or Picture TUI, is a terminal image viewer with an integrated file browser and real-time previews.

It can render images through Chafa or jp2a and also provides a graphical rendering mode. Users can switch renderers while working and resize the preview pane without leaving the interface.

PTUI has expanded into a more capable image-management tool, adding file operations, sorting and star ratings stored in interoperable XMP sidecars.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

• Supports common image formats.
• Provides real-time image previews.
• Uses Chafa for ANSI and terminal rendering.
• Can use jp2a as an alternative converter.
• Provides a graphical rendering mode.
• Allows the active converter to be switched from the keyboard.
• Provides slideshow mode.
• Supports arrow-key control during slideshows.
• Supports slideshow transitions with jp2a.
• Supports arrow-key navigation.
• Supports Vim-style j and k navigation.
• Allows directories to be entered from the interface.
• Allows navigation back to the parent directory.
• Offers multilingual support.
• Dynamically responds to terminal resizing.
• Allows the preview pane to be resized manually.
• Caches rendered images for improved performance.
• Provides scrollable directory listings.
• Previews image files.
• Previews text files.
• Can open a file in the system file browser.
• Can delete files.
• Can copy files.
• Can move files.
• Can save rendered images as ASCII output.
• Can sort files by date.
• Can sort files by name.
• Can sort files by star rating.
• Supports star ratings from zero to five.
• Can store ratings in XMP sidecar files.
• Uses the standard xmp:Rating property.
• XMP ratings can be read by software such as darktable and digiKam.
• Can preserve unrelated metadata already present in XMP sidecars.
• Can keep ratings in PTUI’s own state file instead of creating sidecars.
• Dynamically reloads configuration changes.
• Provides an integrated help screen.
• Support Kitty and iTerm2 graphics rendering in compatible terminals.
• Cross-platform support – runs on Linux and macOS.

Website: github.com/narbs/ptui
Support:
Developer: Christian Clare
License: MIT License

PTUI is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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