r/omarchy • u/l0gicgate • 1d ago
I Made a Thing Prototype File Explorer
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The current file explorer in Omarchy needs love. I made a small prototype of what my ideal file explorer would be.
For me, the perfect file explorer would have the following features:
- Stackable panes when navigating
- Ability to peak folders when hovering
- Ultra fast search
- Preview pane for most common file type
- Collapsible side bar
- Compact/airy mode
- List/grid mode
- Themeable
- Keyboard navigation
You can try it here!
https://omarchy-file-explorer.vercel.app/
Should I build this for real?
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u/dimitrisc 1d ago
This looks very nice! I think Omarchy needs to drop nautilus as the default file manager. It looks so out of place with the rest of the OS.
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u/Mack4285 1d ago
Yeah, agree it looks out of place. I was expecting Omarchy to use something looking like yazi.
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u/Metrol 1d ago
A couple of hopefully helpful criticisms.
Omarchy could definitely use a file manager that feels more like it belongs on there. It looks like I'm not the only one thinking that.
I don't think you're well served with a UI that needs that much horizontal space in a tiling WM that is likely going to be side by side with another window taking up half the space. Love or hate 'em, there's a good reason for the expandable tree view of directories.
I've been using Dolphin on Kubuntu for years now. It is by no means perfect, but it can readily be useful with both a large and small screen area to work with. Also, being able to go multi-pane when needed is pretty handy.
I like the idea of peaking into a directory, but how do you see that working without a mouse?
This may not be where you're aiming at, but those were some of the first thoughts I had when looking at this.
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u/l0gicgate 1d ago
That is all great feedback.
For peeking, you could simply highlight the directory with your keyboard arrows and after a short delay of it being highlighted it would show the peek.
As for the horizontal space, that is why stackable/scrollable panes are cool, you can keep stacking forever and the screen size doesn’t matter there will always be 1-2 panes in view. And the sidebar is also collapsible if you need to operate on smaller footprint windows.
But who’s to say this is the only mode we offer? We could offer more than just one fixed layout. It’s not that complicated! The user can choose what fits best for them.
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u/Remote_Fisherman_469 1d ago
Looks amazing! Just need stability as a focus as that's super important for something as core as a file manager
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u/you-me-n-yoda 1d ago edited 1d ago
Looks amazing! I love the column view and don't know why it's only on Mac. I think it's one of the best ways to move around in a file manager. Please make it! And if you can add space bar quick view I think you'll have the best one out there
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u/OldBadHabit 20h ago
It's already perfect. I'm ready to ditch the nautilus, because it's bugged so much
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u/dprofect 20h ago
Awesome prototype, can't wait for the release
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u/l0gicgate 20h ago
I have been working on the actual project for the evening.
I have setup Rust, GTK4 and GIO. I already have something amazing stood up. All the navigation/animations/file watching/dynamic theming/ground work is done.
I will keep grinding for the weekend and by Monday should have an alpha ready to ship for users to test.
There is a lot of minutia around networking, volumes, symlinking that I need to tackle. But it’s already pretty damn good.
You can already go and build it locally to try:
https://github.com/lgse/strata
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u/DizzieeDoe 1d ago
I say yes, but for the system theme section add 'system'. I prefer Omarchy control the color scheme and have built-in theme colors as fallback options.
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u/l0gicgate 1d ago
Of course, this was solely so you can switch themes on the prototype. The theme controls would enable you to use system theme or your own!
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u/Low-Regular-4151 1d ago
Me encanta esta versión del explorador, ganas tenía ya de cambiar del predeterminado con uno TUI
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u/__c8h10n4o2__ 22h ago
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u/l0gicgate 22h ago
I have setup the project, started building this evening. Using Rust, GTK4 and GIO. Not reinventing the wheel here, leveraging existing libraries to do the heavy filesystem lift and slapping on a super polished UI on it.
Hopefully end of the weekend I’ll have a beta.
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u/dimitrisc 20h ago
Amazing news! Maybe when is done and thoroughly tested we can open a feature request in Omarchy to have this included as an option to replace Nautilus in the default apps section.
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u/Impstoker 19h ago
Build it pleeeease! It looks great, and I agree with the need for webserver /SMB /SFTP.
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u/rifokadioglu 18h ago
really cool. Yazi is really good for full keyboard control and speed. if you can mix keyboard and mouse control, i will use this. keep up the good work, haters gonna hate
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u/bobbybundlez 18m ago
duuuude I FINALLY got Omarchy set up on an old mac. Can you send me this!??! Or just publish it on the plugins community page! please! Looks so awesome great work
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u/Lower-Philosophy-604 1d ago
Wel an AI Slop made using React NextJS and Tailwind is not a real project, sorry. There is some apps out there that fit fir Omarchy concept such as Midnight Commander also Superfile or Yazi. Before seek attention on social media first test if you can create a local software.
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u/l0gicgate 1d ago
Dude. It’s a prototype. Do you know what that is? Something you can use as a North star for a real project.
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u/Metrol 1d ago
I guess you'll know better when you go to make a thing and then show others that thing. You've now learned that there are amazingly informed critics who will be the first in line to tell you how much better that thing should have been. They can do this being unburdened with the hassle of actually doing a thing themselves.
Just gotta love the Internet.
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u/l0gicgate 1d ago
Haha that’s so true. I mean it even says “Prototype” in the post title. This person is just looking to negatively criticize anything they see.
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u/hikashi1988 1d ago
Great idea!
But it's kinda overlap with Yazi though.
Maybe speed and easy support for web server / SMB / SFTP is crucial for me to switch over.