ncrs

Dual-panel file manager · macOS · Linux · Windows

Two panels. Every action on a key.

ncrs is a fast, keyboard-first file manager in the spirit of Norton Commander, written in Rust. Its assistant Hermes reads your letters and invoices and files them, on your own machine.

Download for macOSLinux & Windows

Free and open source (MIT) · No account · No tracking

ncrs with two file panels side by side, two tagged files and the function key bar at the bottom

Tag files with Space, copy them to the other panel with F5. That's the whole idea.

01 / keyboard

Your hands stay on the keys

F5 copies, F6 moves, F8 deletes. Almost every command has a key, most keys can be changed, and F1 lists them all.

02 / fast

Never waits on the disk

Rust and a GPU-drawn interface. Folders load in the background, so a slow network drive never freezes the window.

03 / yours

Nothing phones home

No account, no analytics, no crash reports. It only goes online when you ask: for a server, a theme or a model. Hermes' AI runs on your computer, and its index is encrypted by default.

What it does

Everything a commander needs, plus the things you'd expect from a modern editor.

PanelsTwo panels, tag and actTag rows, then copy, move or delete them across panels.Drives · PlanetsDrives and favouritesVolumes, iCloud, Dropbox and your favourite folders on Option F1.Search · Smell-o-scopeSearch names and contentsLive results as you type, with regex and file filters.Quick Open · Dark Matter DriveJump to any fileType a few letters of a path; cfgrs finds src/config.rs.ArchivesArchives open like folderszip, tar, tar.gz, tar.zst and 7z: browse, extract, add, pack.ServersSFTP in a panelA server is just another folder. Host keys checked, passwords in the keychain.TrashUndo a deleteF8 moves to the trash, Cmd Z puts it back.LookThemes, even from VS CodeBuilt-in presets, or load any VS Code color theme.

Hermes · beta

Paperwork, filed for you

Drop a scan into your inbox (the Tubes). Hermes reads it, recognises sender, date and amount, and files it where it belongs. You check what it isn't sure about.

How Hermes works
  1. 1 Inbox · TubesA PDF or photo arrives in your inbox folder
  2. 2 ReadText is pulled out, with OCR for scans
  3. 3 RulesYour rules find sender, kind and tax context
  4. 4 Local AIA small on-device model fills the gaps
  5. 5 Review · PendingUnsure cases wait for your OK
  6. 6 Filing location · Central FilingFiled into your folder structure

Spricht Deutsch

English and German built in. F9 switches the language of the running window. Every string carries a note for translators, so more languages are easy to add.

The same ncrs window with German labels
macOSbrew install --cask cosmicdriftgamestudio/ncrs/ncrsInstalls ncrs.app and the ncrs command
Linuxsudo apt install ncrsapt, dnf and zypper repositories, signed
Windowsirm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CosmicDriftGameStudio/ncrs/main/install.ps1 | iexOr the ZIP, also as a portable version

All downloads and setup steps →

Questions

Is ncrs free?

Yes. ncrs is free and open source under the MIT license.

What is a two-panel file manager?

One that shows two folders side by side, with the function keys along the bottom: the orthodox layout Norton Commander made popular. Copying and moving always go from one panel to the other.

Is it a Total Commander alternative for Mac and Linux?

It follows the same two-panel idea from Norton Commander, with the classic F-keys, on macOS, Linux and Windows.

Does Hermes send my documents to the cloud?

No. Text recognition and the AI run on your computer. You can point Hermes at a model server of your own, on the same computer for now; that is off until you set it up.

Can I change the keys?

Yes, most of them: in the shortcuts dialog (Cmd K) or in the config file. Several keys per action, or none.

Which systems does it run on?

macOS on Apple silicon and Intel, Linux on x86_64 and aarch64 with glibc 2.39 or newer (Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 13, Fedora 40 and later), and Windows on x86_64.