# bt

> TUI file manager with tree-based navigation for manipulating files and directories in terminal

Stars: 167 · Categories: File Management

- Repository: https://github.com/LeperGnome/bt
- Page: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/bt

## Install

- Go: `go install github.com/LeperGnome/bt/cmd/bt@v1.2.2`
- Make: `make install`
- Binary: `Download prebuilt binaries from releases`

## Overview

bt is a terminal user interface file manager that renders file systems as navigable trees rather than columns. It displays directory structures vertically with indentation, allowing users to maintain spatial context while moving through nested subdirectories. The tool supports standard file operations including copying, moving, deleting, creating files and directories, and renaming through vim-style key bindings.

The interface includes file previews in a side panel, supports marking multiple files for batch operations, and integrates with system editors through the $EDITOR environment variable. Navigation uses hjkl keys for movement, tab/shift+tab for marking files, and single-key commands for operations like 'd' for move, 'y' for copy, and 'p' for paste. The tool can toggle hidden files, open files with system defaults, and provides async file previews including basic image support.

bt targets users who find column-based file managers like ranger or lf disorienting when working across deeply nested directories. It focuses on maintaining visual context of the current location within the file tree structure. The tool supports configuration via YAML files and runs on Linux and macOS, with Windows support planned.

### Installation

```bash
# via Go
go install github.com/LeperGnome/bt/cmd/bt@v1.2.2
```

```bash
# via Make
make install
```

```bash
# via Binary
Download prebuilt binaries from releases
```

## Alternatives

- [cull](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/cull.md): Interactive TUI disk space analyzer for scanning directories, finding large files, and deleting them from the terminal. (168 stars)
- [deletor](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/deletor.md): File deletion tool with interactive TUI and CLI modes supporting filters, trash integration, and batch operations. (261 stars)
- [bkp](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/bkp.md): Simple command-line utility for creating numbered backups of files and directories with optional TAR archiving. (24 stars)
- [notox](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/notox.md): CLI tool for renaming files to remove toxic or problematic characters from filenames (Rust, 16 stars)
- [hazelnut](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/hazelnut.md): Terminal-based automated file organizer that watches folders and applies rules to move, copy, rename, or delete files based on patterns (Rust, 327 stars)

## Guides

- [Best Terminal File Managers](https://www.trmn.sh/best/terminal-file-managers): Compare terminal file managers: yazi, nnn, ranger, lf, broot and more. Differences in previews, plugins, footprint and keybindings.

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Canonical: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/bt