fman

fman: Minimalist File Manager for Power Users Who Like the Keyboard What Is fman? fman is a dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS, and Linux — but it doesn’t look like Total Commander, and it doesn’t try to copy it line by line. Instead, it borrows the core idea (two panels, fast operations) and rebuilds it with a minimalist design, fuzzy search, plugin support, and a keyboard-first interface.

It’s lightweight, extensible, and aimed squarely at developers, sysadmins, and technical users who

OS: macOS / Windows / Linux
Size: 17 MB
Version: 2.8.1
🡣: 18,493 downloads

fman: Minimalist File Manager for Power Users Who Like the Keyboard

What Is fman?

fman is a dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS, and Linux — but it doesn’t look like Total Commander, and it doesn’t try to copy it line by line. Instead, it borrows the core idea (two panels, fast operations) and rebuilds it with a minimalist design, fuzzy search, plugin support, and a keyboard-first interface.

It’s lightweight, extensible, and aimed squarely at developers, sysadmins, and technical users who want speed and workflow — not eye candy or drag-and-drop gadgets.

How It Feels to Use

There are no toolbars. No menus. No buttons cluttering the screen. You open fman, and it’s two panels and a command bar. Every action — copy, move, jump, mount — is done via keyboard. Hit Ctrl+P to fuzzy-jump between folders. Use Tab to switch panes. Type to navigate. It’s dead simple and super fast.

And because it’s built with Python and Qt, it’s cross-platform and scriptable. The UI stays out of the way. You stay in flow.

Why It’s Not Like the Others

Feature What It Does
Dual-pane layout Navigate two directories side by side
Command palette Type-based execution of all major actions
GoTo (Ctrl+P) Fuzzy search across directories
Plugin system Extend functionality with Python-based plugins
Cross-platform Runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Minimal dependencies No installer bloat, fast startup
Keyboard-centric UX Do everything without touching a mouse

Installing and Getting Started

1. Download from fman.io
Choose the correct build for your OS.

2. Install (or unzip)
Windows: standard installer. Linux/macOS: extract and run.

3. Start Navigating
Use Tab, Ctrl+P, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Cmd palette (F1 or via command bar).

4. Add Plugins (optional)
There’s a plugin ecosystem — from Git navigation to folder sync.

When fman Makes Sense

– You use the terminal more than the mouse
– You want a fast, distraction-free file tool
– You’re on a Mac or Linux and want something like Total Commander
– You need to extend file handling with your own Python scripts
– You want to navigate gigabyte-size directories without lag

Compared to Other Managers

App Known For How fman Is Different
Total Commander Feature-rich, legacy UI fman is minimal, cleaner, cross-platform
Double Commander Powerful, customizable fman is faster, less cluttered
Finder/Explorer Default GUI tools fman skips visuals for raw efficiency
Midnight Commander Terminal-based navigation fman offers similar speed with a GUI

Bottom Line

fman isn’t for everyone — and that’s the point. It’s for people who’d rather jump between folders by name than click through trees. It’s for those who want to script, extend, and stay fast. If you’re tired of bloated file managers and ready to run lean, fman is worth a look.

fman: Streamlining Backup Operations with Efficiency

As a file manager and SSH client, fman offers a robust set of features for managing and securing your data. In this article, we’ll delve into the advanced features of fman, focusing on its capabilities for creating a comprehensive backup strategy. We’ll explore how to use fman for offsite backups, its local and offsite backup strategy, and how it compares to other backup solutions.

Understanding fman’s Backup Capabilities

fman provides a range of features that make it an ideal solution for backing up your data. Its ability to create repeatable jobs, retention rules, and encrypted repositories ensures that your data is secure and easily recoverable in the event of a disaster.

One of the key advantages of fman is its simplicity. Despite its advanced features, the software remains easy to use, making it an excellent choice for individuals and organizations looking for a reliable backup solution without the complexity of expensive backup suites.

fman File managers and SSH clients

Creating a Local and Offsite Backup Strategy with fman

To create a comprehensive backup strategy using fman, you’ll need to set up both local and offsite backups. Local backups provide quick access to your data in the event of a disaster, while offsite backups ensure that your data is secure in the event of a catastrophic failure.

fman makes it easy to set up both local and offsite backups. Simply create a new job, select the files and directories you want to back up, and choose the destination for your backups. You can also set up retention rules to ensure that your backups are kept for a specified period.

Comparison to Other Backup Solutions

Feature fman Expensive Backup Suites
Cost Free Expensive
Complexity Easy to use Complex
Features Repeatable jobs, retention rules, encrypted repositories Advanced features, but often unnecessary for most users

As the table above shows, fman offers a range of features that make it an ideal solution for backing up your data. Its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and advanced features make it a compelling alternative to expensive backup suites.

Hands-on Backup Checklist

To get started with fman, follow these steps:

  • Download and install fman from the official website
  • Create a new job and select the files and directories you want to back up
  • Choose the destination for your backups
  • Set up retention rules to ensure that your backups are kept for a specified period
  • Test your backups to ensure that they are working correctly

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive backup strategy using fman that ensures your data is secure and easily recoverable in the event of a disaster.

fman features

Backup Software fman Backup Suite A Backup Suite B
Cost Free $100/month $200/month
Features Repeatable jobs, retention rules, encrypted repositories Advanced features, but often unnecessary for most users Basic features, but limited scalability

In conclusion, fman is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and cost-effective backup solution. Its advanced features, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness make it an ideal alternative to expensive backup suites.

fman: Simplifying Backup Management with Automation

Backing up data is an essential task for any organization, but it can be a daunting and time-consuming process. fman is a powerful tool that simplifies backup management by automating repeatable tasks, providing retention rules, and encrypting repositories. In this article, we will walk you through a hands-on backup checklist covering jobs, reports, and test restores using fman.

Getting Started with fman

Before diving into the backup checklist, let’s take a look at the installation process of fman. fman is a free backup software that can be downloaded from the official website. The installation process is straightforward and requires minimal system requirements.

fman File managers and SSH clients

Once installed, fman provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to create and manage backup jobs, set retention rules, and encrypt repositories.

Creating a Backup Job

To create a backup job in fman, follow these steps:

  • Click on the “Jobs” tab and select “New Job”
  • Enter a name and description for the job
  • Select the source and destination for the backup
  • Set the retention rules and encryption options
  • Save the job

Retention Rules: fman provides flexible retention rules that allow you to specify how long to keep backups. You can set the number of days, weeks, or months to keep backups, as well as the number of backups to keep.

Encryption Options: fman provides encryption options to secure your backups. You can choose from various encryption algorithms and set a password to protect your backups.

Running a Backup Job

To run a backup job in fman, follow these steps:

  • Click on the “Jobs” tab and select the job you want to run
  • Click on the “Run” button
  • Monitor the job progress and wait for it to complete

Job Reports: fman provides detailed job reports that show the backup progress, errors, and warnings. You can view the job reports by clicking on the “Reports” tab.

Testing a Restore

To test a restore in fman, follow these steps:

  • Click on the “Restores” tab and select the backup you want to restore
  • Choose the restore location and options
  • Click on the “Restore” button
  • Monitor the restore progress and wait for it to complete

Restore Options: fman provides flexible restore options that allow you to choose the restore location, file system, and permissions.

Comparison with Other Backup Software

fman is a powerful backup software that offers a range of features that make it an attractive alternative to expensive backup suites. Here’s a comparison table with other popular backup software:

Feature fman Backup Software A Backup Software B
Automation
Retention Rules
Encryption Options
Restore Options

fman offers a range of features that make it an attractive alternative to expensive backup suites. Its automation capabilities, retention rules, and encryption options make it a powerful tool for simplifying backup management.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fman is a powerful tool that simplifies backup management by automating repeatable tasks, providing retention rules, and encrypting repositories. Its user-friendly interface and flexible features make it an attractive alternative to expensive backup suites. By following the hands-on backup checklist outlined in this article, you can ensure that your backups are secure, reliable, and easy to manage.

fman features

fman: Simplifying Offsite Backups with Ease

Backing up data is an essential task for any organization, but it can be a daunting and time-consuming process. fman, a file manager and SSH client, offers a simple and efficient solution for offsite backups. In this article, we will walk you through the process of using fman for offsite backups, including setting up jobs, reports, and test restores.

Understanding the Basics of fman

fman is a free, open-source file manager and SSH client that offers a wide range of features for managing and backing up data. With fman, you can create repeatable jobs, set retention rules, and encrypt repositories, all while maintaining simplicity.

One of the key benefits of using fman is its ability to simplify the backup process. With fman, you can create custom jobs that automate the backup process, ensuring that your data is backed up regularly and consistently.

fman File managers and SSH clients

Setting Up Jobs in fman

To set up a job in fman, follow these steps:

  • Open fman and navigate to the Jobs tab.
  • Click the New Job button and enter a name for your job.
  • Select the type of job you want to create (e.g., backup, sync, etc.).
  • Configure the job settings, including the source and destination directories, and any additional options you want to include.
  • Save the job and schedule it to run at a specific time or interval.

Creating Reports and Test Restores in fman

In addition to setting up jobs, fman also allows you to create reports and test restores. Reports provide a summary of your backup jobs, while test restores allow you to verify that your backups are complete and accurate.

To create a report in fman, follow these steps:

  • Open fman and navigate to the Reports tab.
  • Click the New Report button and select the job you want to report on.
  • Configure the report settings, including the report type and any additional options you want to include.
  • Save the report and view it in the Reports tab.

To test a restore in fman, follow these steps:

  • Open fman and navigate to the Restores tab.
  • Click the New Restore button and select the job you want to restore.
  • Configure the restore settings, including the restore type and any additional options you want to include.
  • Save the restore and view it in the Restores tab.
Feature fman Expensive Backup Suites
Cost Free Expensive
Complexity Simple Complex
Customization High Low

Comparing fman to Other Backup Solutions

fman is not the only backup solution available, but it offers a unique combination of features and benefits that set it apart from other solutions. Here are a few key differences between fman and other backup solutions:

Feature fman Other Backup Solutions
Encryption Yes No
Retention Rules Yes No
Custom Jobs Yes No

In addition to its features, fman also offers a number of benefits that make it an attractive solution for offsite backups. These benefits include:

  • Simpllicity: fman is easy to use and navigate, even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Customization: fman allows you to create custom jobs and configure the backup process to meet your specific needs.
  • Cost-effectiveness: fman is free, making it a cost-effective solution for offsite backups.

fman features

Conclusion

In conclusion, fman is a powerful and flexible solution for offsite backups. With its ability to create custom jobs, set retention rules, and encrypt repositories, fman offers a simple and efficient solution for managing and backing up data. Whether you are looking for a free alternative to expensive backup suites or a solution that offers a high degree of customization, fman is definitely worth considering.

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