# cd-browser

**Stop typing paths. Browse them.**

`cd-browser` is a fast keyboard-driven directory navigator for the terminal.
It lets you explore directory trees visually and jump to any folder instantly.

![cd-browser demo](https://gitea.sakydogalo.es/saky/cd-browser/raw/branch/main/docs/demo.gif)

Repository (full demo + docs): https://gitea.sakydogalo.es/saky/cd-browser

## Why cd-browser?

Working in the terminal often means:

- typing long directory paths
- navigating deep folder trees
- repeating `cd ..` multiple times

`cd-browser` provides an **interactive terminal UI** that allows you to browse directories with the keyboard and return the selected path directly to your shell.

## Features

- ⌨️ Fully keyboard-driven workflow (`↑` / `↓` / `←` / `→`)
- 🌲 Expand and collapse directories (`→` to expand/enter, `←` to collapse/back)
- 📜 Navigation history inside the session (`h` history mode, `b` back, `f` forward)
- 🔎 Incremental filter mode (`/`, type to filter, `Backspace`, `Esc`)
- 📄 Toggle file visibility (`a`) to switch between directories-only and mixed view
- ⚡ Fast jumps in large lists (`PgUp`/`PgDn`, `Home`/`End`, `g`/`G` in normal mode)
- 🚀 Contextual `open with` menu (`o`) with app detection based on your environment
- 🔁 Blocking terminal editors restore the UI state when they exit (`nvim`, `nano`, `less`, `bat`)
- 👀 Toggle hidden entries with `.`
- 🖥 Native terminal interface
- 🔁 Works with Bash, Zsh and other shells
- ⚡ Returns the selected path to the shell (`Enter` to confirm, `Esc` to cancel)

## Controls

Normal mode:

- `↑` / `↓`: Move selection
- `→`: Expand directory, or enter when already expanded
- `←`: Collapse directory, or go to parent
- `Enter`: Confirm selected path and exit
- `Esc`: Cancel and return the original path
- `h`: Toggle history mode
- `b` / `f`: Back / forward in navigation history
- `.`: Toggle hidden entries
- `a`: Toggle file visibility
- `/`: Enter filter mode
- `o`: Open selected entry with an app
- `PgUp` / `PgDn`: Page jump
- `Home` / `End`: Jump to first/last entry
- `g` / `G`: Jump to first/last entry

Filter mode:

- Type text: Filter visible entries in real time (case-insensitive)
- `↑` / `↓`: Move inside filtered results
- `Enter`: Apply filter and perform contextual action:
  - Directory: navigate into it without exiting `cd_`
  - File: open app selection menu
- `Esc`: Exit filter mode and clear query
- `Backspace`: Remove last filter character

History mode:

- `↑` / `↓`: Move through history entries
- `Enter`: Jump to selected history path
- `Esc` or `h`: Exit history mode
- `PgUp` / `PgDn`, `Home` / `End`: Fast history navigation

Open with menu (`o`):

- `↑` / `↓`: Move between app options
- `Enter`: Launch selected app
- `Esc`: Cancel

The menu only shows apps available in your system (`PATH`) and context:

- GUI options (when GUI is available): `code`, system `open`/`xdg-open`
- Terminal options: `antigravity`, `nvim`, `nano`, `less`, `bat` (as applicable)

## Quick Demo

Run:

```bash
cd_
```

Browse directories using the arrow keys and press **Enter** to jump directly to the selected folder.

## Documentation

See the documentation index:

```
docs/index.md
```

## Installation

Install the project in user mode:

```bash
pip install cd-browser
```

**Important**: After installation, run this to set up the `cd_` command:

```bash
cd_browser_post_install
```

This interactive script will guide you through enabling `cd_` in your shell.

## Shell Integration For `cd_`

Because a Python subprocess cannot directly change the parent shell directory, use a shell wrapper that captures the final path printed by `cd_browser`.

Bash or Zsh example:

```bash
cd_() {
  local target
  target="$(cd_browser)" || return

  if [ -n "$target" ] && [ -d "$target" ]; then
    cd "$target"
  fi
}
```

After adding the function to your shell profile, reload it:

```bash
source ~/.bashrc
```

Or:

```bash
source ~/.zshrc
```

Then use:

```bash
cd_
```

- Inside `cd_browser`, press `.` to toggle hidden entries.

## Platform Compatibility

Practical conclusion:

- Best current support: **macOS and Linux**
- **Windows is partially supported**, but still needs real-world validation in Windows terminal environments before being considered fully supported

## Uninstall

If the project was installed with `pip`, remove it with:

```bash
pip uninstall cd-browser
```

**Important**: After uninstalling, remove the `cd_()` function from your shell profile (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) to clean up completely.

## Developer Setup

Recommended setup:

```bash
make dev
```

Run the application in development mode:

```bash
python -m app.main
```

Useful development commands:

```bash
make fix
make quality
make run
```

## Template Origin

This project was created from the Python AI Dev Template.

The original template documentation has been preserved in `README_TEMPLATE.md` so the project-specific README can focus on `cd-browser` usage and development.

For the original template setup, conventions, and generic workflow notes, see `README_TEMPLATE.md`.