dirbuf.nvim

A directory buffer for Neovim that lets you edit your filesystem like you edit text. Inspired by vim-dirvish and vidir.

Features

• Intuitive: Create, copy, delete, and rename files, directories, and more by editing their lines in the directory buffer. Buffer names are automatically updated to reflect these changes.
• Minimal: Works out of the box with no configuration. Default mappings easily changed.
• Unobtrusive: Preserves alternate buffers, letting you switch between files with Ctrl-^ (Ctrl-6).
• Safe: Does not modify the filesystem until you save the buffer. Optionally request confirmation and dry-run saving.
• Reliable: Resolves inter-dependencies in batch renames, including cycles.
• Polite: Plays nicely with tree-based file viewers like nvim-tree.lua, fern.vim, and carbon.nvim.

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/42009212/162110083-9fd3701f-8ffb-4cf7-9333-d57020a9242e.mp4

Installation

Requires Neovim 0.6 or higher.

• vim-plug: Plug "elihunter173/dirbuf.nvim"
• packer.nvim: use "elihunter173/dirbuf.nvim"

Notes

If you use nvim-tree.lua, you must disable the :help nvim-tree.update_to_buf_dir option. Otherwise, Dirbuf will fail to open directory buffers.

require("nvim-tree").setup {
    update_to_buf_dir = { enable = false }
}

If you notice nvim /some/directory opening Netrw instead of Dirbuf, you can disable Netrw by adding the following to your init.vim or init.lua. This issue only appears with certain package managers and affects other file manager plugins as well. I am searching for a more elegant solution.

" init.vim
let g:loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
let g:loaded_netrw = 1

-- init.lua
vim.g.loaded_netrwPlugin = 1
vim.g.loaded_netrw = 1

Usage

Run the command :Dirbuf to open a directory buffer for your current directory. Press - in any buffer to open a directory buffer for its parent. Editing a directory will also open up a directory buffer, overriding Netrw.

Inside a directory buffer, there are the following keybindings:

• <CR>: Open the file or directory at the cursor.
• gh: Toggle showing hidden files (i.e. dot files).
• -: Open parent directory.

See :help dirbuf.txt for more info.

Configuration

Configuration is not necessary for Dirbuf to work. But for those that want to override the default config, the following options are available with their default values listed.

require("dirbuf").setup {
    hash_padding = 2,
    show_hidden = true,
    sort_order = "default",
    write_cmd = "DirbufSync",
}

Read the documentation for more information (:help dirbuf-options).

Development

A Justfile is provided to test and lint the project.

# Run unit tests
$ just test
# Run luacheck
$ just lint

just test will automatically download plenary.nvim's test harness and run the *_spec.lua tests in tests/.