broot

Overview

Broot is a terminal-based file manager that displays file hierarchies in a tree view for navigation and manipulation. It supports searching, filtering, and file operations like copying, moving, renaming, and deleting directly from the interface. Designed for command-line users handling complex directory structures, it stands out with fuzzy search, real-time filtering, and configurable shortcuts.¹⁴⁹

Key Features

• Tree View - Displays file hierarchy with expandable/collapsible directories for intuitive navigation.
• Fuzzy Search - Enables quick location of files and directories using fuzzy matching.
• File Operations - Supports copy, move, rename, and delete with simple commands like :mv or :rm.
• Real-Time Filtering - Dynamically updates tree display as user types search terms.
• Custom Verbs - Allows defining shortcuts and custom commands for actions.
• Preview Panel - Opens side panel to preview file contents including images using Ctrl+right arrow.
• Staging Area - Stages multiple files for batch operations like bulk deletion.
• Git Integration - Shows git status information with --show-git-info flag.

Pricing

Platforms & Requirements

Broot runs in terminals on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Requires Rust for compilation from source or pre-built binaries; no specific minimum hardware noted beyond terminal support. Performs efficiently with large directories across platforms.²⁶

Integrations & Ecosystem

• Shell integration via 'br' function for cd and other commands
• Git status display
• Command-line tool chaining
• Tab completion for paths
• Custom key bindings
• Regex search integration

Alternatives

Reputation

Broot is praised for its intuitive tree view, fast fuzzy search, and efficient handling of large directories, making it valuable for terminal workflows. Users appreciate customizability and integration with shells via 'br'. Some note it requires initial configuration and isn't a full replacement for tools like lf.³⁵⁷