macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install lflocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install lfMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/lf/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 1631
Install lf with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop, winget
Terminal file manager. Version 42 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-31. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install lf.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add lfAlpine Linux edge package indexes · lf · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install lfDebian stable package indexes · lf · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#lfnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/lf/lf/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S lfArch Linux sync databases · lf · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install lfopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · lf · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/lfScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/lf.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id LlamaFarm.CLI -eWindows Package Manager source index · LlamaFarm.CLI · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
Terminal file manager
Project links
Commands and aliases
- lf
history
Project history and usage
`lf`, short for 'list files', is a terminal file manager written in Go and heavily inspired by ranger. It packages the familiar keyboard-driven file-manager workflow as a single static binary with shell-extensible commands.
Project history
The `gokcehan/lf` repository was created on August 13, 2016. Its README describes a cross-platform terminal file manager with ranger inspiration, fast startup, low memory footprint, asynchronous I/O, a server/client architecture, remote commands, shell-command extensibility, and configurable keybindings.
The official documentation can be read inside the program with `lf -doc`, via the `help` command, as a man page, or online in `doc.md`, which reinforces the package's culture as a terminal-first application rather than a GUI file browser.
Adoption history
lf became a staple option in the small but active terminal-file-manager ecosystem. The package metadata in this batch lists packages across Alpine, Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Scoop, Ubuntu, winget, and openSUSE, which matches its cross-platform design.
How it is used
Users launch `lf` in a directory, navigate with keyboard bindings, preview files, run shell commands, and use configuration files such as `lfrc`, `colors`, and `icons` to tailor behavior. Its design encourages composing with external previewers, openers, editors, and shell scripts.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care about lf because it is a modern Go-era reinterpretation of ranger: fast single-binary distribution, portable packaging, and deliberate reliance on external Unix tools for parts of the workflow. It is also a good example of a TUI program whose package value is mostly ergonomics and glue, not a daemon or library.
Timeline
- 2016: The `gokcehan/lf` repository was created on August 13, 2016.
- 2016: The project was shared publicly as 'lf: A terminal file manager' in command-line communities.
- 2018: Release discussions around r5 show lf already had a user-feedback loop around terminal-file-manager behavior.
- 2026: The upstream repository remained active, with Homebrew packaging and documented cross-platform installation paths.
Related projects
- lf is most directly related to ranger, its stated inspiration. It sits beside other terminal file managers such as nnn, vifm, yazi, mc, and broot, and it depends culturally on shell tools, preview commands, terminal emulators, and editor integrations.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/lf/lfrc~/.config/lf/lfrc/etc/lf/colors~/.config/lf/colors/etc/lf/icons~/.config/lf/icons- Windows
C:\ProgramData\lf\lfrcC:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\lf\lfrcC:\ProgramData\lf\colorsC:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\lf\colorsC:\ProgramData\lf\iconsC:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\lf\icons
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
lf | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version42
manager updated2026-07-31
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:lf |
|---|---|
| Version | 42 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://godoc.org/github.com/gokcehan/lf |
| Repository | https://github.com/gokcehan/lf |
| Last updated | 2026-07-31T09:33:27Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
lf 34+ds-2+b1
terminal file manager written in Go
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apt install lf- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lf
- 3 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
Nix95%
lf
nix profile install nixpkgs#lf- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
Ubuntu apt95%
lf 31+ds-1
terminal file manager written in Go
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apt install lf- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
apk95%
lf 42-r0
Terminal filemanager written in Go with vim-style keybindings
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apk add lf- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
apk95%
lf-bash-completion 42-r0
Bash completions for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apk add lf-bash-completion- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
apk95%
lf-doc 42-r0
Terminal filemanager written in Go with vim-style keybindings (documentation)
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apk add lf-doc- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
apk95%
lf-fish-completion 42-r0
Fish completions for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apk add lf-fish-completion- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
apk95%
lf-zsh-completion 42-r0
Zsh completions for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo apk add lf-zsh-completion- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
pacman95%
lf 42-1
A terminal file manager inspired by ranger
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo pacman -S lf- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
zypper95%
lf 34-1.8
Terminal file manager (with sixel support)
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo zypper install lf- License: MIT
- Category: Productivity/File utilities
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lf
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
zypper95%
lf-bash-completion 34-1.8
Bash Completion for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo zypper install lf-bash-completion- License: MIT
- Category: System/Shells
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: lf
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
zypper95%
lf-fish-completion 34-1.8
Fish Completion for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo zypper install lf-fish-completion- License: MIT
- Category: System/Shells
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: lf
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
zypper95%
lf-zsh-completion 34-1.8
Zsh Completion for lf
https://github.com/gokcehan/lf
sudo zypper install lf-zsh-completion- License: MIT
- Category: System/Shells
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: lf
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
MacPorts95%
lf
sudo port install lf- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
Scoop95%
main/lf
scoop install main/lf- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
winget95%
LlamaFarm.CLI
winget install --id LlamaFarm.CLI -e- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lf
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation