nnn in action! (click to play video)
`nnn` is probably the [fastest and most resource-sensitive](#performance) file manager you have ever used. It integrates seamlessly with your DE and favourite GUI utilities, has a unique [navigate-as-you-type](#navigate-as-you-type-mode) mode with auto-select, disk usage analyzer mode, bookmarks, contexts, application launcher, familiar navigation shortcuts, subshell spawning and much more. [Integrate utilities](https://github.com/jarun/nnn#sample-scripts) like sxiv or fzy easily; `nnn` supports as many scripts as you need! It runs on Linux, OS X, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin, Linux subsystem for Windows and Termux. [Quickstart](#quickstart) and see how `nnn` simplifies those long desktop sessions... Missing a feature? Want to contribute? Head to the rolling [ToDo list](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/issues/110). *Love smart and efficient utilities? Explore [my repositories](https://github.com/jarun?tab=repositories). Buy me a cup of coffee if they help you.*
PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEM TIME+ COMMAND 5034 vaio 20 0 71628 59932 2412 S 0.0 0.7 0:01.22 ncdu / 4949 vaio 20 0 14812 3616 2560 S 0.0 0.0 0:00.83 nnn -S /`nnn` vs. midnight commander vs. ranger memory usage while viewing a directory with 13.5K files, sorted by size:
PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEM TIME+ COMMAND 31885 vaio 20 0 139720 91220 8460 S 0.0 1.1 0:02.96 /usr/bin/python -O /usr/bin/ranger 30108 vaio 20 0 72152 12468 7336 S 0.0 0.2 0:00.06 mc 30168 vaio 20 0 16476 5072 2640 S 0.0 0.1 0:00.22 nnn -c 1 -iIntrigued? Find out [HOW](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/wiki/performance-factors). ### Installation #### Dependencies `nnn` needs libncursesw (on Linux or ncurses on OS X) and standard libc. #### From a package manager - [Arch Linux](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/x86_64/nnn/) (`pacman -S nnn`) - [Debian](https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=nnn&searchon=names&exact=1) (`apt-get install nnn`) - [Fedora](https://apps.fedoraproject.org/packages/nnn) (`dnf install nnn`) - [FreeBSD](https://www.freshports.org/misc/nnn) (`pkg install nnn`) - [Gentoo](https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/app-misc/nnn) (`emerge nnn`) - [Homebrew](http://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nnn) (`brew install nnn`) - [NixOS](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/tree/master/pkgs/applications/misc/nnn) (`nix-env -i nnn`) - [OpenBSD](https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/ports/sysutils/nnn/) (`pkg_add nnn`) - [openSUSE](https://software.opensuse.org/package/nnn) (and packages for several other distros) (`zypper in nnn`) - [Raspbian Testing](https://archive.raspbian.org/raspbian/pool/main/n/nnn/) (`apt-get install nnn`) - [Slackware](http://slackbuilds.org/repository/14.2/system/nnn/) (`slackpkg install nnn`) - [Source Mage](http://codex.sourcemage.org/test/shell-term-fm/nnn/) (`cast nnn`) - [Termux](https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/tree/master/packages/nnn) (`pkg in nnn`) - [Ubuntu](https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=nnn&searchon=names&exact=1) (`apt-get install nnn`) - [Ubuntu PPA](https://launchpad.net/~twodopeshaggy/+archive/ubuntu/jarun/) (`apt-get install nnn`) - [Void Linux](https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages/tree/master/srcpkgs/nnn) (`xbps-install -S nnn`) #### Release packages Packages for Arch Linux, CentOS, Debian, Fedora and Ubuntu are available with the [latest stable release](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/releases/latest). #### From source To cook yourself, download the [latest stable release](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/releases/latest) or clone this repository (*risky*). Then install the dependencies and compile (e.g. on Ubuntu 16.04): $ sudo apt-get install pkg-config libncursesw5-dev $ make $ sudo make install `PREFIX` is supported, in case you want to install to a different location. ### Shell completion Search keyword and option completion scripts for Bash, Fish and Zsh can be found in respective subdirectories of [`scripts/auto-completion/`](scripts/auto-completion). Please refer to your shell's manual for installation instructions. ### Usage #### Cmdline options ``` usage: nnn [-b key] [-c N] [-e] [-i] [-l] [-S] [-v] [-h] [PATH] The missing terminal file manager for X. positional args: PATH start dir [default: current dir] optional args: -b key bookmark key to open -c N dir color, disables if N>7 -e use exiftool instead of mediainfo -i start in navigate-as-you-type mode -l start in light mode -S start in disk usage analyser mode -v show program version -h show this help ``` `>` indicates the currently selected entry in `nnn`. #### Keyboard shortcuts Press ? in `nnn` to see the list anytime. ``` NAVIGATION ↑, k, ^P Up PgUp, ^U Scroll up ↓, j, ^N Down PgDn, ^D Scroll down Home, g, ^, ^A First entry ~ Go HOME End, G, $, ^E Last entry & Start dir ←, Bksp, h, ^H Parent dir - Last visited dir →, ↵, l, ^M Open file/enter dir . Toggle show hidden / Filter Ins, ^I Toggle nav-as-you-type b Pin current dir ^V Go to pinned dir ^B Key prompt ^L Redraw, clear prompt Esc Exit prompt ^Bn Switch to context n ^G Quit and cd q Quit context Q, ^Q Quit ? Help, settings FILES ^O Open with... n Create new D File details d Toggle detail view ^R Rename entry r Open dir in vidir ^Y Toggle selection y List selection ⎵, ^K Copy entry path ^T Toggle path quote P Copy selection ^X Delete selection V Move selection X Delete entry f Archive entry F List archive ^F Extract archive m, M Brief/full media info e Edit in EDITOR p Open in PAGER ORDER ^J Toggle du mode S Toggle apparent size s Toggle sort by size t Toggle sort by mtime MISC o Launch GUI app !, ^] Spawn SHELL in dir R Run custom script L Lock terminal ``` Help & settings, file details, media info and archive listing are shown in the PAGER. Please use the PAGER-specific keys in these screens. #### Key prompt The key prompt, invoked by ^B, provides a powerful multi-functional navigation mechanism. It is case-sensitive and understands contexts, bookmarks and handy location shortcuts. | Key | Function | |:---:| --- | | 1-4 | Go to selected context | | >, . | Go to next active context | | <, , | Go to previous active context | | key | Go to bookmarked location | | ~ | Go to HOME directory | | - | Go to last visited directory | | & | Go to start directory | | q | Quit context | If all the configured bookmark keys are single character, the prompt is not shown and Enter is not required; just press ^B followed by the key (like the vim Leader key). #### Contexts Contexts (aka _tabs_ aka _workspaces_) serve the purpose of exploring multiple directories simultaneously. 4 contexts are available. The status of the contexts are shown in the top left corner: - the current context is in reverse - other used contexts are underlined - rest are unused The first time a context is entered, it copies the state of the last visited context. Each context remembers its start directory and last visited directory. When a context is quit, the next active context is selected. If the last active context is quit, the program quits. #### Filters Filters support regexes to instantly (search-as-you-type) list the matching entries in the current directory. Ways to exit filter prompt: - press ^L to clear filter followed by Bksp (to clear the filter symbol, like vi) - at other prompts ^L followed by Enter discards all changes and exits prompt - run a search with no matches and press Enter Common use cases: - to list all matches starting with the filter expression, start the expression with a `^` (caret) symbol - type `\.mkv` to list all MKV files - use `.*` to match any character (_sort of_ fuzzy search) If `nnn` is invoked as root or the environment variable `NNN_SHOW_HIDDEN` is set the default filter will also match hidden files. #### Navigate-as-you-type mode In this mode directories are opened in filter mode, allowing continuous navigation. Works best with the **arrow keys**. In case of only one match and it's a directory, `nnn` auto selects the directory and enters it in this mode. To disable this behaviour, export NNN_NO_AUTOSELECT=1 #### File indicators The following indicators are used in the detail view: | Indicator | File Type | |:---:| --- | | `/` | Directory | | `*` | Executable | |
| | Fifo |
| `=` | Socket |
| `@` | Symbolic Link |
| `@/` | Symbolic Link to directory |
| `b` | Block Device |
| `c` | Character Device |
#### File handling
| External dependency | Operation |
| --- | --- |
| xdg-open (Linux), open(1) (OS X), cygstart (Cygwin) | desktop opener |
| mediainfo, exiftool | multimedia file details |
| atool, patool ([integration](#integrate-patool)) | create, list and extract archives |
| vidir from moreutils | batch rename, move, delete dir entries |
| vlock (Linux), bashlock (OS X), lock(1) (BSD) | terminal locker |
| $EDITOR (overridden by $VISUAL, if defined) | edit files (fallback vi) |
| $PAGER | page through files (fallback less) |
| $SHELL | spawn a shell, run script (fallback sh) |
- To edit all text files in EDITOR (preferably CLI, fallback vi):
export NNN_USE_EDITOR=1
#### Help
$ nnn -h
$ man nnn
To lookup keyboard shortcuts at runtime, press ?.
### Quickstart
1. Install the [utilities required](#file-handling) for your regular activities.
2. Configure [cd on quit](#cd-on-quit).
3. Optionally open all text files in EDITOR (fallback vi):
export NNN_USE_EDITOR=1
4. Run `n`.
5. Press ? for help on keyboard shortcuts anytime.
6. For additional functionality [setup custom scripts](#run-custom-scripts).
### How to
#### add bookmarks
Set environment variable `NNN_BMS` as a string of `key:location` pairs (max 10) separated by semicolons (`;`):
export NNN_BMS='doc:~/Documents;u:/home/user/Cam Uploads;D:~/Downloads/'
#### copy file paths
##### selection
Use ^K to copy the absolute path (from `/`) of the file under the cursor to clipboard. To copy multiple absolute file paths the selection mode should be enabled using ^Y. In this mode it's possible to
- cherry-pick individual files one by one by pressing ^K on each entry; or,
- navigate to another file in the same directory to select a range of files.
Pressing ^Y again copies the paths to clipboard and exits the selection mode. The files in the list can now be copied, moved or removed using respective keyboard shortcuts.
To list the file paths copied to memory press y.
File paths are copied to the temporary file `DIR/.nnncp`, where `DIR` (by priority) is:
$HOME or,
$TMPDIR or,
/tmp
To see the path to the temporary copy file, run `nnn`, press `?` and look up `copy file`.
To use the copied paths from the cmdline, use command substitution. For example, if `DIR` above is `/home/user`:
# bash/zsh
ls -ltr `cat /home/user/.nnncp`
ls -ltr $(cat /home/user/.nnncp)
# fish
ls -ltr (cat /home/user/.nnncp)
An alias may be handy:
alias ncp='cat /home/user/.nnncp'
so you can easily handle files together:
# bash/zsh
ls -ltr `ncp`
ls -ltr $(ncp)
# fish
ls -ltr (ncp)
##### quote paths
To wrap each file path within single quotes while selecting:
export NNN_QUOTE_ON=1
This is particularly useful if you are planning to copy the whole string to the shell to run a command. Quotes can be toggled at runtime using ^T.
Note that the filename is not escaped. So copying may still fail for filenames having quote(s) in them.
##### to clipboard
Along with default copy, `nnn` can pipe the absolute path of the current file or multiple files to a copier script. For example, you can use `xsel` on Linux or `pbcopy` on OS X.
Sample Linux copier script:
#!/bin/sh
# comment the next line to convert newlines to spaces
IFS=
echo -n $1 | xsel --clipboard --input
export `NNN_COPIER`:
export NNN_COPIER="/path/to/copier.sh"
#### cd on quit
To quit `nnn` and switch to the directory last opened follow the instructions below.
Pick the appropriate file for your shell from [`scripts/quitcd`](scripts/quitcd) and add the contents to your shell's rc file. You'll need to spawn a new shell for the change to take effect. You should start `nnn` as `n` (or modify the function name to something else). To change directory on quit press `Q` (it's _capital_) or `^G` while exiting.
As you might notice, `nnn` uses the environment variable `NNN_TMPFILE` to write the last visited directory path. You can change it.
#### run custom scripts
`nnn` can invoke custom scripts with the currently selected file name as argument 1.
Export the path to the custom executable script:
export NNN_SCRIPT=/usr/local/bin/nscript
Press R to run the script in the current directory.
It's possible to run multiple scripts with `nnn` as long as the scripts are in the same location and share the same prefix. To enable multiple scripts,
export NNN_MULTISCRIPT=1
With the example of `NNN_SCRIPT` above, some more scripts could be:
/usr/local/bin/nscript1
/usr/local/bin/nscript2
/usr/local/bin/nscriptcustom1
/usr/local/bin/nscriptcustom2
and so on...
Type the correct suffix when prompted on pressing the keybind R. To use the base script (`NNN_SCRIPT`), just press Enter.
##### sample scripts
- Open image files in current dir in **sxiv**:
#!/usr/bin/env sh
sxiv -q * >/dev/null 2>&1
- Fuzzy find files in **fzy** and open with xdg-open:
#!/usr/bin/env sh
xdg-open $(find -type f | fzy) >/dev/null 2>&1
#### change dir color
The default color for directories is blue. Option `-c` accepts color codes from 0 to 7 to use a different color:
0-black, 1-red, 2-green, 3-yellow, 4-blue, 5-magenta, 6-cyan, 7-white
Any other value disables colored directories.
#### integrate patool
On systems where `atool` is not available but `patool` is, drop two copies of the Python3 script [natool](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/blob/master/scripts/natool) as `atool` and `apack` somewhere in `$PATH`.
#### work faster at rename prompt
The rename prompt supports some bash-like command-line shortcuts - ^A, ^E, ^U. ^L clears the name.
#### set idle timeout
The terminal screensaver is disabled by default. To set the wait time in seconds, use environment variable `NNN_IDLE_TIMEOUT`.
#### show hot plugged drives
Enable volume management in your DE file manager and set removable drives or media to be auto-mounted when inserted. Then visit the usual mount point location (`/mnt` or `/media/user`) in `nnn`.
#### tmux config
`nnn` might not handle keypresses correctly when used with tmux (see issue #104 for more details). Set `TERM=xterm-256color` to address it.
### Why fork?
`nnn` was initially forked from [noice](http://git.2f30.org/noice/) but is significantly [different](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/wiki/nnn-vs.-noice) today. I chose to fork because:
- one can argue my approach deviates from the goal of the original project - keep the utility `suckless`. In my opinion evolution is the taste of time.
- I would like to have a bit of control on what features are added in the name of desktop integration. A feature-bloat is the last thing in my mind. Check out [nnn design considerations](https://github.com/jarun/nnn/wiki/nnn-design-considerations) for more details.
### Mentions
- [FOSSMint](https://www.fossmint.com/nnn-linux-terminal-file-browser/)
- [It's FOSS](https://itsfoss.com/nnn-file-browser-linux/)
- [LinuxLinks](https://www.linuxlinks.com/nnn-fast-and-flexible-file-manager/)
- [Ubuntu Full Circle Magazine - Issue 135](https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-135/)
### Developers
1. Copyright © 2014-2016 Lazaros Koromilas
2. Copyright © 2014-2016 Dimitris Papastamos
3. Copyright © 2016-2018 [Arun Prakash Jana](https://github.com/jarun)