tfm

tfm uses OpenTUI Core to browse, move, rename, and preview files from a mouse-first terminal interface. Run tfm ~/some/path to open a directory with a Nautilus-style sidebar and a file grid. The grid supports context menus, rubber-band selection, live search, and undo and redo.

The file browser reads GTK bookmarks and recent files, restores items from XDG trash, and shares the system clipboard. An embedded terminal opens $SHELL in the current directory. The interface also shows image thumbnails and tree-sitter syntax highlighting, with more than 30 configurable themes.

tfm runs only on Linux and ships prebuilt binaries for x86_64 and aarch64. Image thumbnails require a terminal that supports the kitty graphics protocol, such as kitty or ghostty. Other terminals show Nerd Font glyphs instead. Only kitty supports drag and drop between tfm and external applications. Under tmux, image previews require allow-passthrough.

Desktop features depend on external helpers, including gio, xdg-open, udisksctl, rsvg-convert, magick, and Wayland or X11 clipboard tools. Moves between filesystems copy files and then delete the originals, so those moves are not atomic. The project is experimental. Do not use it with files that you cannot afford to lose.

The README documents terminal compatibility, desktop helpers, keyboard controls, configuration, and known limitations.