In a column for XDA, writer Joyjeet Mukherjee argues that superfile is the first terminal file manager he would choose over a graphical user interface.
The application launches with a single command and mirrors the layout of traditional desktop file managers.
Many Linux users maintain a graphical file manager specifically for organizing files, as terminal alternatives often feel outdated or visually harsh. Mukherjee writes that superfile bridges this gap by offering a modern interface that operates entirely inside a terminal window.
The utility is available across multiple package systems including Arch Linux via pacman, Homebrew, and Nix, alongside a dedicated installation script. Users launch the program using the spf command and can print configuration paths by running spf pl.
The default interface places the main file panel next to a sidebar containing pinned folders and mounted drives. Below these areas, separate panels track metadata, the clipboard, and running processes.
The process panel monitors file copies and moves similarly to standard desktop progress indicators. Standard keyboard shortcuts function within the environment, where Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, and Ctrl+V execute copy, cut, and paste commands.
Users create new files or folders with Ctrl+N, rename items using Ctrl+R, and send selections to the system trash via Ctrl+D. Multiple panels open across the interface and remain navigable using the Tab key.
Mukherjee writes that selection mode activates via the v key, allowing users to sweep across files using Shift and the arrow keys. The Shift+A combination grabs an entire directory for batch operations, while Ctrl+A and Ctrl+E handle archive compression and extraction respectively.
The preview pane renders text files, folders, and images directly inside the terminal interface when toggled with the f key. Mukherjee describes this capability as his favorite feature of the software.
Images load asynchronously to prevent interface stalls when users scroll rapidly through large directories. Pressing the m key shifts focus to the metadata panel to display permissions, owners, and group details.
Folder sizes calculate exclusively while the metadata panel remains active to conserve system resources. Additional attributes and EXIF data become visible through configured plugins.
Integrating the zoxide utility allows users to access a jump panel for frequently visited directories by pressing z. Enabling cd_on_quit ensures that exiting the program leaves the shell inside the last active directory.
Pressing e opens selected files in a designated default editor, while Shift+E opens the entire directory. The application operates smoothly over SSH connections, enabling remote server management on hardware like Proxmox without requiring manual directory traversal.
Mukherjee notes that despite its utility, users cannot drag files directly from the interface into external applications or open unmounted network drives. Consequently, he continues to utilize traditional graphical file managers for those specific tasks.
