Rust terminal file manager with asynchronous I/O for efficient file operations

Yazi: A Fast, Modern Terminal File Manager Worth Trying

As someone who spends most of the day in the terminal, I've tried quite a few terminal file managers over the years. From the classic ranger to the minimalist nnn, each has its strengths but also pain points—usually around performance with large directories or image preview support that feels like an afterthought. That's why I was intrigued when I came across Yazi, a relatively new terminal file manager written in Rust that's been gaining traction (over 27k stars on GitHub speaks to that).

What makes Yazi stand out?

At its core, Yazi is a terminal-based file manager that prioritizes speed through asynchronous I/O. Unlike traditional file managers that often block during operations like directory scanning or file previews, Yazi handles these tasks in the background without freezing the UI—something anyone who's tried to navigate a directory with thousands of images will appreciate immediately.

The project's documentation has a great deep-dive on why it's fast, but the practical takeaway is this: when you're scrolling through a large directory, previewing images, or performing batch operations, Yazi feels noticeably snappier than most alternatives I've used. The UI stays responsive even when multiple operations are happening simultaneously.

Key features worth noting

What really impressed me isn't just the speed but how thoughtfully the features are implemented:

Image preview that actually works is a big one. Terminal file managers often struggle with image previews, requiring complex setups with external tools. Yazi has built-in support for multiple terminal image protocols (Kitty, iTerm2, WezTerm, Sixel) and falls back gracefully to Überzug++ or Chafa when needed. I tested it with different terminals (Kitty and WezTerm primarily) and was surprised by how seamless the image rendering was compared to my previous setup with ranger.

The async task management is another standout. When copying or moving large files, you get real-time progress updates and can cancel tasks without disrupting the rest of the interface. This feels much more modern than the "fire and forget" approach many terminal tools take.

I also appreciate the balance between customization and out-of-the-box usability. While Yazi is highly configurable (through Lua scripts), it works well immediately after installation. The default keybindings will feel familiar to Vim users (hjkl navigation, : commands), which lowers the learning curve.

The plugin system shows promise too. Being able to extend functionality with Lua without restarting the application is convenient, and the built-in package manager makes discovering and installing plugins straightforward.

How does it compare to alternatives?

I've used ranger as my daily driver for years, so that's my primary point of comparison:

• Performance: Yazi is noticeably faster with large directories. Scrolling through a folder with hundreds of images feels smooth, whereas ranger would often lag or freeze temporarily during similar operations.

• Image handling: Yazi's built-in image decoding and previewing is more reliable. I've had fewer issues with broken previews or crashes when dealing with various image formats.

• Configuration: Ranger uses Python for configuration, which some might prefer over Yazi's Lua. However, Yazi's documentation is excellent, and Lua's simplicity makes it approachable even if you're not familiar with the language.

• Ecosystem maturity: Ranger has a larger plugin ecosystem and longer track record. Yazi is still in beta, so you might encounter occasional bugs or missing features.

For those who prefer minimalism, nnn is still lighter and faster to start, but lacks many of Yazi's features like tabs, advanced previews, and a plugin system.

Practical considerations for potential users

Yazi isn't perfect, and there are some things to consider before switching:

• Terminal compatibility: While Yazi supports many terminals, some features (especially image previews) work better in modern terminals like Kitty or WezTerm. If you're using a more basic terminal, you might not get the full experience.

• Resource usage: Yazi is not the lightest option. It uses more memory than nnn or even ranger, though this is rarely noticeable on modern hardware.

• Beta status: The project warns that breaking changes might occur, and I did encounter a couple of minor bugs during my testing (nothing critical, but worth noting).

• Learning curve: Despite the Vim-like bindings, there are enough differences to require some adjustment time. The command palette (accessed via :) helps with discovering features.

Who should try Yazi?

Yazi feels particularly well-suited for:

1. Developers who spend significant time in the terminal and want a balance between speed and functionality.

2. Power users who need advanced features like batch renaming, multi-tab support, and cross-directory selection.

3. Those working with media files—photographers, designers, or anyone who regularly needs to preview images in the terminal will appreciate Yazi's robust image handling.

4. Rust enthusiasts might enjoy seeing how Rust's performance characteristics translate to a real-world application like this.

Final thoughts

After using Yazi daily for about a month, I've decided to make it my primary terminal file manager. The performance improvements alone make it worth the switch, and the thoughtful feature set shows that the developers understand the needs of terminal-based workflows.

That said, if stability and a mature plugin ecosystem are your top priorities, you might want to wait until Yazi reaches a stable release. But if you're comfortable with occasional rough edges and want to experience what a modern, async-first terminal file manager can offer, Yazi is definitely worth trying.

The project is actively maintained, with frequent updates and responsive developers (I've had good experiences with their GitHub discussions). It's exciting to see where Yazi goes from here—with a little more time to mature, it could easily become the new gold standard for terminal file managers.