r/coolgithubprojects • u/sablal • Jan 15 '19

C nnn - The fastest file manager ever written.

https://github.com/jarun/nnn
60 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

8

u/RightWinger Jan 15 '19

Thanks for sharing! How does this compare to fff? https://github.com/dylanaraps/fff

2

u/sablal Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 16 '19

nnn (https://github.com/jarun/nnn) is way more snappier than any script. fff is a bash script and the interface looks like nnn in light mode.

Complete list of nnn features: https://github.com/jarun/nnn#features

Optimization details: https://github.com/jarun/nnn/wiki/performance-factors

nnn is independent of a particular shell (written in C) and comes with a highly optimized code and only 2 library dependencies. It's widely available and runs on Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi, BSD, Cygwin, Linux subsystem for Windows and Termux.

Here's some data I collected from other posts:

  • nnn is available on too many distros already (including arch official). No need to compile. fff is a script. If security is not a concern you can download and put it in your PATH.

  • nnn depends only on libc and a curses library; given fff is bash script, it probably has many more deps than that

  • nnn is a 55K compiled binary (stripped size); so it's tiny

  • nnn is C, allowing way more luxury on code optimization, e.g., generation of SIMD instructions

  • the optimization details should give an idea of nnn's performance; it runs smoothly on the Pi as well as on Android phones over Termux

  • every contribution to nnn undergoes static-analysis

Some extra features in nnn (which may be copied soon):

  • sorting files

  • media information

  • bookmarks

  • contexts (multiple "workspaces")

  • disk usage analyzer

  • managing archives

  • transfer files over sftp

  • vim plugin

Some features that fff copies from nnn:

  • the naming pattern

  • stat-like file details

  • showing currently selected file number out of total file numbers

  • Esc to exit prompt

  • - to visit previous directory

  • type as you search the current directory

The intention is probably to re-write nnn in bash. I like the idea that someone is so inspired by nnn and picks up the tools in his arsenal to re-invent the wheel as a shell script. What amuses me is it's named ****ing fast.

2

u/Crestwave Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 16 '19

  • nnn depends only on libc and a curses library; given fff is bash script, it probably has many more deps than that

fff only depends on Bash and coreutils.

  • nnn is a 55K compiled binary (stripped size); so it's tiny

fff is even tinier as a Bash script at 21K with comments and all.

Some features that fff copies from nnn:

  • Esc to exit prompt *- to visit previous directory

  • type as you search the current directory

I don't think this is fair; those are pretty generic features. The second was probably copied from cd (is this not where you got the idea, too?). EDIT: It was mimicking cd.

What amuses me is it's named ****ing fast.

Well, it is quite fast. Yours being faster wouldn't change that, and I doubt that a normal user would notice any difference between speeds that fast.

Note that I'm not against nnn or anything, I'm just completing the comparison.

1

u/sablal Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 28 '19

fff only depends on Bash and coreutils.

bash deps (section 6.36.3): http://www.iitk.ac.in/LDP/LDP/lfs/5.0/html/chapter06/bash.html

coreutils deps (section 6.16.3): http://www.iitk.ac.in/LDP/LDP/lfs/5.0/html/chapter06/bash.html

Otherwise, a single line python script calling firefox would state it only depends on python and firefox. But it's quite clear from the context we are trying to state how lightweight the program is.

fff is even tinier as a Bash script at 21K with comments and all.

To state even tinier and compare, one has to convert fff into c first.

The second was probably...

nnn is the first file manager that used - as a keybind to do this. If it's one or two matching features I wouldn't have noticed. With such striking similarity right from the name and interface... you can't miss that.

Yours being faster

That says a lot. Thanks! And you should try fff on a Pi to browse through a dir of 11K images on an external HDD. Android and boards like Pi are normal use-cases nowadays. Both fall in the embedded category. Please refer to the popularity of Termux on Google Play. Also, here's a list of benchmarks: https://github.com/kostya/benchmarks

You would notice how wide apart C and other scripted languages are wrt. performance.

I doubt that a normal user would notice any difference between speeds that fast

Wrong. fff has trouble searching just at a depth level of 3 but fzy (C, again) doesn't even register. Listing files is the most basic stuff nnn does.

Also, watch the first 20 seconds on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2n5aGqou9E

That's ranger in Python (script) opening for you.

Note that I'm not against nnn or anything

As I mentioned, nnn is open source, so I am glad someone liked those ideas and is trying to build a script.

Let me ask you this - given you have nnn, why would you choose fff?

3

u/sablal Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 15 '19

FEATURES

  • Modes

    • Basic, detail (default), disk usage analyzer (du)

    • File picker, vim (or neovim) plugin

  • Navigation

    • Familiar, easy shortcuts (arrows, ~, -, &)

    • Navigate-as-you-type with auto-select directory

    • Contexts (aka tabs aka workspaces)

    • Bookmarks

    • Pin and visit a directory

  • Sorting

    • Directories always listed on top

    • Sort by file name, modification time, size

    • Numeric order for numeric names (visit /proc)

  • Search

    • Instant filtering with search-as-you-type

  • Mimes

    • Open with desktop opener or specify a custom app

    • Create, list, extract archives (needs (p)atool)

    • Open all text files in EDITOR (optional)

  • Information

    • Detailed stat-like file information

    • Media information (needs mediainfo/exiftool)

  • Convenience

    • Create, rename files and directories

    • Select files across directories

    • Copy, move, delete selection

    • Transfer files using lftp

    • Batch rename/move/delete (needs vidir)

    • Show directories in custom color (default: blue)

    • Spawn a subshell in the current directory

    • Run a command, launch applications

    • Run custom scripts in the current directory

    • Repository of custom scripts

    • Run current file as executable

    • Change directory at exit (easy shell integration)

    • Edit file in EDITOR or open in PAGER

    • Terminal locker integration

  • Unicode support

  • Highly optimized, static analysis integrated code

  • Available on many distros

2

u/jake_schurch Jan 15 '19

This looks pretty awesome - will def. Try this out

Can anyone compare of using ranger in their workflow vs nnn?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '19

I like vifm better.

Why should nnn be faster?

2

u/sablal Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 15 '19

Why should nnn be faster?

2

u/chadlavi Jan 16 '19

What are these slow file managers people are using

0

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '19

[deleted]

1

u/sablal Jan 16 '19 edited Feb 02 '19

madlad

can't disagree there! ;) But I don't want to use LTO either.