fman

Active

Country: Germany (DE)
Founded: 2017
Developer: Michael Herrmann
Pricing: Freemium (now open source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Indexes

File Managers

Overview

fman is a dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS, and Linux, serving as an alternative to Explorer and Finder. It enables efficient directory browsing, file copying, moving, renaming, and opening by always displaying two directories side-by-side.¹²⁷ The app stands out with its extensible plugin system and cross-platform design built using Qt and Python.⁴⁵

Key Features

Dual-pane interface - Displays contents of two directories simultaneously for efficient file operations.
Plugin system - Extends functionality with plugins like ArrowNavigation, OpeniTerm2, and FuzzySearch.
Symbolic links - Creates symbolic links via Shift+F5 dialog.
Interactive tutorial - Guides users through key features on first launch.
Data directory access - Opens customizable settings and plugins directory via command.
Cross-platform support - Runs consistently on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Keyboard shortcuts - Supports commands like Ctrl+Shift+P for palette access.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free version	Free	Core dual-pane file management features.
Commercial (historical)	Paid	Full access before open source transition.
Open source	Free	Full source code on GitHub for modification and distribution.

Platforms & Requirements

fman runs on Windows (data dir: C:/Users//AppData/Roaming/fman), macOS (data dir: /Users//Library/Application Support/fman; requires config on Catalina+ to avoid popups), and Linux (data dir: ~/.config/fman).³⁹ Built with Qt for cross-platform consistency; no specific minimum requirements listed.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Plugin system (ArrowNavigation, OpeniTerm2, ShareFile, FuzzySearchFilesInCurrentFolder)
GitHub source repository
Qt framework
Python scripting
iTerm2 integration via plugin

Alternatives

App	Difference
Total Commander	Windows-focused dual-pane manager without native Linux/macOS support.
Double Commander	Free, open-source dual-pane manager with broader plugin ecosystem but less focus on speed.
Midnight Commander	Terminal-based dual-pane manager for Linux, lacks GUI cross-platform polish.
ForkLift	macOS-specific dual-pane manager with stronger cloud sync features.

Reputation

fman is recognized for its efficient dual-pane design and cross-platform reliability, built with Qt and Python, appealing to users seeking faster file operations than native managers.¹² Its plugin system offers extensibility, though the ecosystem is smaller than competitors.⁴ Now open source after commercial development, it garners interest from developers for studying cross-platform file manager implementation.⁵ Some users note platform-specific tweaks needed, like on macOS Catalina.⁹

Sources (10)