# ranger
> A VIM-inspired file manager for the console

## Summary
A VIM-inspired console file manager with multi-column display and file previews. Supports bookmarks, tabs, and is highly extensible via Python plugins.

## Capabilities
- Miller columns layout with directory preview
- VI key bindings for navigation
- File previews (text, images, PDFs via plugins)
- Bookmarks, tabs, and custom commands

## When to Use
- Want a full-featured file manager with vim-style navigation
- Need file previews in the terminal
- Prefer a visually rich file browsing experience

## When NOT to Use
- Need maximum speed (nnn is faster)
- Resource-constrained environments (Python overhead)

## Usage Patterns
### Launch file manager
```
ranger
```
Opens the multi-column file manager in the current directory

### Open a specific directory
```
ranger /var/log
```
Opens ranger starting in the specified directory

## Installation
- **homebrew**: `brew install ranger`
- **apt**: `sudo apt install ranger`
- **pip**: `pip install ranger-fm`
- **pacman**: `sudo pacman -S ranger`

## Related Tools
- [nnn](/tools/nnn) (alternative): nnn is faster and more minimal; ranger is more feature-rich

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Source: https://littlescripts.sh/tools/ranger
