xvw/qian

A minimalist file-explorer using Electron via Elm.

Qian (wip)

Qian is an hackable micro File explorer for OSX, written in Elm and Electron. The name Qian come from the name of Zhang Qian, a Chinese explorer. (aha get it ?)

Tl;dr

Since I'm on Mac, I mainly use the terminal to navigate my files because I do not like much Finder (I don't really have any arguments ...). So I decided to build a small file explorer (mainly to navigate my documents) that would fit perfectly to my needs.

I used Elm because I wanted to learn how to use it, and Electron because I want to prototype quickly.

Philosophy

The main goal of this project is not to create a revolutionary software. Just build a useful software for me. The idea is to implement features only when I need them.

If you see any changes to the code, do not hesitate to make an issue or pull-request! In addition, if a feature seems interesting to implement, let's talk about it in an issue!

Usage

• npm install -g elm (to install Elm)
• make install to fetch the NPM dependancies
• make build to build the application
• make run to run the buildt application
• make (a combo of make build and make run)
• make app to create a runnable app on OSX

Shortcuts

• Tab : toggle the focus on the searchbar
• Cmd + Alt + Enter : Open the current folder in finder
• Cmd + Enter : Open the current folder in a terminal
• Cmd + < : Go on the pred view (if it exists)
• Cmd + > : Go on the next view (if it exists)
• Cmd + Shift + Space : Go to the parent (if it exists)

About the search bar

Using Tab you can toggle the search-bar activation. When you write text into this bar, the content of the folder will be filtered using a fuzzy-filtering. If you write /, Qian will open the first element of the result of the filtering.

Credits

• @radmen: add the support of Fuzzy-Search (using a NoRedink's package)
• @julien-leclercq: Makefile improvement
• @xvw: everything else... (I think :P)

Tools

• Dotgrid (for the logo)
• Elm (to have a nice language)
• Electron (to have a window !)
• Font Awesome (for the icon in the UI)
• NoRedInk Simple Fuzzy (for the Fuzzy Searching)

qian's Issues

xvw

https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/password_reset_request

Focus search by default

Again me, again with feature request :)
Would it be possible to focus search by default?

It would be quite useful for heavy keyboard users.

[Feature] Fuzzy search?

Problem

I like the way how qian supports search.
IMO it would be even better if it supported fuzzy search.

Allow to use different term emulator

Problem

Right now opening directory in terminal opens native osx terminal emulator. It would be nice to choose in which terminal should be directory opened (in my case: iterm2)

Arrow navigation with arrows

⬆️ and ⬇️ would be incredibly faster (for me) to navigate from file to file with a selection using return key

Feedback and request for private course

Hi i have tried Qian and I don't think it is very interesting. Could you give me some free private lesson. PLEASE. I want to understand what is "intersting" in you pseudo-innovation.

releases

hi @xvw could you provide github releases? so i would create the associated brew formula?

Not possible to navigate using keyboard after search focus

Problem

Qian seems to be focused strongly on using keyboard.
Yet I find it really annoying that it's not possible to select file with arrows or even change directory with Cmd+UP/Cmd+LEFT/Cmd+RIGHT.

I've tried to unfocus search by hitting Tab key however it didn't fix anything.
Mentioned shortcuts work only when I click somewhere on the file listing

What I expect

I think that navigation shortcuts should work even if search bar is focused.

More informations (for example, specific context or steps to reproduce)

• focus on search bar using [Tab]
• type something
• open directory using / key
• try to go back using Cmd-LEFT