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What is superfile?
superfile is a terminal file manager built for developers who work primarily in the command line. It runs inside your terminal (launched with the command spf) and handles everyday file operations—copy, move, delete, rename, fuzzy search, bulk actions and image preview—while presenting a deliberately polished interface rather than a bare list of filenames. It's written in Go using the Bubble Tea framework, is MIT-licensed, and installs on Linux, macOS and Windows through package managers such as Homebrew, Pacman and Nix, or via install scripts.
What it actually gives you
- Multiple panels: split the view into several directory panes and copy or paste between them with a few keystrokes. This is the feature most likely to change how you work: you can keep a source folder, a destination folder and a project directory visible at once instead of navigating back and forth.
- Customization: every hotkey can be remapped, and borders, colors and themes can be adjusted. There are 20+ built-in themes (Catppuccin, Nord, Tokyo Night, Dracula, Gruvbox, Rose Pine and others), which matters if you already keep your terminal and editor in a matching palette.
- Plugins: community extensions add things like Git status, system monitoring and custom commands, so the file manager can surface context you'd otherwise check in separate tools.
- Keyboard-first operation: fuzzy search and bulk selection suit people who'd rather type a few characters than click through folders.
Who it suits, and the trade-off
It fits developers already living in a terminal—running an editor like Neovim, using tmux, or working over SSH—who find ls, cp and mv workable but clumsy for browsing and reorganizing many files. The trade-off is that it is still a terminal application: there's no drag-and-drop, no thumbnail grid beyond image preview, and no desktop integration. If you mainly manage files visually or share a machine with non-technical users, a graphical file manager remains the simpler choice.
A practical next step: install it alongside your existing setup and use it for one real task—say, sorting a downloads folder or moving assets between two project directories using two panels. If the panel workflow and remapped keys feel natural within a week, it earns a permanent place; if you keep reaching for your old commands, you've lost little. The project's site, superfile, has the install guide and a showcase of the interface in action.
How do I install superfile on my operating system?
Install superfile with the package manager or install script for your platform, then run the command spf to start it.
Per-platform install commands
Linux / macOS (install script):
bash -c "$(curl -sLo- https://superfile.dev/install.sh)"
macOS (Homebrew):
brew install superfile
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S superfile
Nix:
nix profile install github:yorukot/superfile#superfile
Windows (PowerShell):
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Invoke-Expression ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://superfile.dev/install.ps1'))"
The site also links a full install guide for details and troubleshooting.
Choosing a method
- Homebrew on macOS: best if you already manage tools with Homebrew; upgrades stay simple.
- Arch / Nix: use the native package so updates flow through your existing system tooling.
- Script install: the quickest route on Linux distros without a packaged build, but you take on manual updates.
- Windows: the PowerShell script is the documented path; expect to run it in a terminal with script execution permitted for that session.
Next step
After installing, open a terminal and run spf. The project is built in Go (Go 1.21+ per the site) and runs on macOS, Linux and Windows under the MIT License. If spf is not found, confirm the install location is on your PATH, then check the full install guide linked from superfile.
How does superfile compare to traditional terminal file managers like ranger or nnn?
Superfile is best understood as a styled, multi-pane terminal file manager for developers who want visual polish without leaving the shell, rather than a minimal, keyboard-only file browser in the tradition of ranger or nnn. It is built with Go and Bubble Tea, and its own description emphasizes a refined UI, multiple directory panes, remappable hotkeys, themes, image preview, fuzzy search and plugin support superfile.
Where it differs in practice
| Area | Superfile, as described | Typical ranger/nnn-style approach |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Deliberately polished terminal UI with themes and adjustable borders/colors | Usually leaner and more utilitarian; appearance is secondary |
| Panes | Multiple directory panes for cross-pane copy and paste | Often a single active view with navigation shortcuts, though ranger is known for its column layout |
| Configuration | Remap every hotkey, choose themes, adjust colors | Usually configured through dotfiles and keybindings, with less emphasis on visual theming |
| Extensibility | Community plugins such as Git status and system monitoring | Varies; often relies on external scripts and shell integration |
| Setup | Install via Homebrew, script, Arch, Nix or Windows PowerShell, then run spf |
Typically installed from a package manager and launched from the shell |
The practical difference is how much of your file workflow you want to see at once. If you regularly move files between two directories, compare versions of files, or want a Git-status cue while browsing, superfile's multiple panes and plugin support are concrete advantages. If you mostly jump between paths by typing and prefer a sparse screen with minimal visual chrome, a lighter manager may feel faster.
A useful way to decide
Try a realistic task rather than judging screenshots: copy three files from a project folder into a build output folder, rename one, and preview an image. If you want both source and destination visible and like themed panes, superfile fits. If you find yourself ignoring the panes and relying on typed paths, a more minimal manager is likely the better match. For a broader look at terminal-first workflows, see GitHub for the project's repository and community plugins.
How can I customize superfile's keybindings and themes to match my workflow?
Superfile is designed so that both keybindings and themes are user-configurable: the site says you can "remap every hotkey," "choose any theme," and "adjust every border and color," with 20+ built-in themes including Catppuccin, Nord, Tokyo Night, Dracula, Gruvbox, and Rose Pine. The exact config file paths and syntax aren't given on the page, so check the project's documentation or repository for the current config format before editing.
A practical approach
- Start from a built-in theme, then tweak. Pick the closest match (for example Nord or Tokyo Night) and adjust only the colors that clash with your terminal—this is faster than building a theme from scratch.
- Remap keys around habits you already have. If you use Vim or another terminal tool daily, map navigation and selection to the keys your fingers already expect. Keep copy, move, delete, and bulk operations on distinct, easy-to-reach keys, since those are the actions you'll repeat most.
- Test with multiple panels open. Superfile supports split directory panes with cross-panel copy and paste, so verify your key choices don't collide when several panels are active and you're switching focus or entering selection mode.
- Change a little at a time. Remap a handful of keys, use it for a day, then adjust. Wholesale remapping tends to produce conflicts you only notice mid-task.
Who gets the most from this
Customization pays off most for developers who live in the terminal and want a file manager that matches their editor's look and muscle memory. If you only occasionally browse files, the defaults plus a theme swap are usually enough.
A concrete scenario
A developer running a Neovim-centric setup could adopt a dark theme close to their editor's palette, map panel movement to the same keys they use for window splits, and keep fuzzy search on a single dedicated key—so moving files feels like part of the same environment. For a broader look at terminal-first workflows, see Neovim; for terminal emulators that pair well with themed TUIs, Ghostty is one option to compare against your current terminal.
As a rule of thumb: customize themes for comfort and keybindings for speed—but only remap keys you actually use daily, and leave the rest at their defaults.
How do I use multiple panels in superfile to move files between directories?
Multiple panels in superfile let you open several directory panes side by side in the terminal, then copy or cut files in one pane and paste them into another. The page lists "multiple panels" and cross-panel copy-paste "with just a few keystrokes" as core features, and the showcase includes multiple-panels, panel-movement and panel-navigation demos you can watch to see the exact key presses.
A practical workflow
- Start superfile by running
spf(per the install instructions on superfile). - Open a second (or third) panel so your source and destination directories are both visible.
- Navigate each panel to the relevant folder.
- Select the files in the source panel, copy or cut them, switch focus to the destination panel, and paste.
- Since hotkeys are fully remappable, check your own key bindings if the defaults don't match what you expect.
When this layout helps
- Moving files between distant trees (e.g., a downloads folder and a project's
assets/directory): you avoid retyping long paths. - Bulk reorganizing: select many files in one pane and drop them into another without leaving the terminal.
- Keeping context visible: you can see both directories at once instead of relying on memory.
Trade-offs
- Panels consume horizontal space, so on narrow terminal windows or small screens, two panes may be cramped; one panel plus fuzzy search can be faster there.
- The page doesn't document specific default keys, so treat the built-in showcase (
superfile --showcase) or your remapped bindings as the source of truth.
If you prefer a GUI-style dual-pane file manager, tools like Midnight Commander or ranger offer similar two-pane workflows; superfile's appeal is its themed, modern UI on top of that model.
What plugins are available for superfile and how do I install them?
The site does not list specific community plugins or explain how to install them. It only states that superfile supports plugins and gives examples of what they can do: Git status integration, system monitoring, and custom commands. For an actual plugin catalogue and installation steps, check the project's GitHub repository.
What the site does say
- Plugins are described as a way to "extend" superfile with community-built additions.
- The examples given are Git status integration, system monitoring, and custom commands.
- No plugin names, repositories, or install commands appear on the page.
Practical next step
If you want Git status in your file manager, a sensible approach is to look for a plugin that runs git status for the current directory and displays the result in a panel. Installation usually means adding a plugin entry to superfile's configuration and pointing it at the plugin's command or script, but confirm the exact steps in the project's documentation rather than assuming.
Decision criterion
Choose a plugin only if it replaces a command you already run by hand in that directory. Git status and system monitoring fit that test; a custom-command plugin is worth it mainly if you repeat the same shell command often. Otherwise, superfile's built-in features (copy, move, rename, fuzzy search, multiple panels) may cover the task without added configuration.
For background on the tool itself, see superfile.
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