forest.hx

forest.hx is a file tree explorer for Helix⁠, with two selectable styles: snacks, a persistent sidebar panel with an integrated fuzzy search bar (default), and mini, floating Miller columns with a live preview.

🍿 snacks style

🔍 mini style preview

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Installation

1. Install the plugin-enabled fork of Helix by following the instructions here⁠.

2. Install forest.hx via forge:

forge pkg install --git https://github.com/Ra77a3l3-jar/forest.hx.git

3. Load the plugin by adding this to your init.scm:

(require "forest/forest.scm")

;; Optional: which side the tree renders on ('left by default), and which
;; entry names are always hidden
(forest-configure! 'left #:ignore (list ".git" "target" "__pycache__"))

;; Optional: which explorer UI forest-open uses ('snacks by default)
;; (forest-set-style! style)
(forest-set-style! 'snacks) ; or 'mini

;; Optional (snacks): wrapping j/k inside a folder, and h/l to enter or leave
(forest-snack-circular-keybinds #t)

;; Optional (snacks): give the sidebar its own background per focus state, so the
;; tree stands apart from the buffer.
(forest-set-sidebar-bg! #:focused "#1e1e2e" #:unfocused "#181825")

;; Optional (snacks): color the search box outline. It marks focus by default
;; (orange focused, white unfocused); override the colors, or stop it changing.
(forest-set-search-color! #:focused "#89b4fa" #:unfocused "#585b70")
(forest-set-search-color! #:always "#89b4fa")            ; one color, both states
(forest-set-search-color! #:focused "#89b4fa" #:follow-focus? #f) ; never changes

Bind :forest-open to a key, e.g. in init.scm:

(keymap (global)
        (normal (space (e ":forest-open"))))

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Usage

snacks style

Key	Action
↑ / ↓ / j / k	Move through the tree
Enter	Open the selected file, or toggle the selected directory
Tab	Toggle the selected directory (outside search)
/	Start typing a fuzzy search query
n	Create a file or directory (end name with / for a directory)
r	Rename the selected entry
d	Delete the selected entry
R	Refresh the tree
g	Toggle dotfiles (.env, .git, etc.)
i	Toggle git-ignored entries
+ / -	Widen / narrow the panel
Space	Open the which-key menu; press any listed key to run its action (Esc dismisses)
Esc	Switch focus to the editor, panel stays open
q	Close the panel

With (forest-snack-circular-keybinds #t), j/k wrap inside the current folder, l/→ enter a directory or open a file, and h/← leave the folder.

Opening or refocusing the tree reveals and centers whatever file is currently open in the editor.

Mouse	Action
Click an entry	Select it, focusing the panel first if the editor had focus
Click it again	Open the file, or toggle the directory
Click the search box	Start typing, keeping whatever query is already there
Wheel over the panel	Scroll the selection
Click in the buffer	Return focus to the editor, panel stays open

mini style

Key	Action
↑ / ↓ / j / k	Move within the active column
→ / l / Enter	Open the selected file, or cascade into the selected directory
← / h	Back up to the parent column
/	Fuzzy search the whole workspace and jump to the match
n	Create a file or directory (end name with / for a directory)
r	Rename the selected entry
d	Delete the selected entry
R	Refresh the active column
g	Toggle dotfiles (.env, .git, etc.)
i	Toggle git-ignored entries
+ / -	Widen / narrow the columns
Space	Open the which-key menu; press any listed key to run its action (Esc dismisses)
Esc / q	Close

Opening the tree reveals whatever file is currently open in the editor, cascading a column for each ancestor directory along the way.

Mouse	Action
Click an entry	Select it; in an ancestor column, drop the columns cascaded off it
Click it again	Open the file, or cascade into the directory
Click in the preview	Cascade into the previewed directory, landing on the entry clicked
Wheel over the active column or preview	Move the selection
Click off the columns	Close

Notes

• Press Space opens the which-key menu in the bottom right corner, and when pressed any listed key to run its action.
• Mouse support needs Helix's own editor.mouse left on (it is by default).
• Two clicks on an entry activate it. They needn't be quick, but a keypress in between cancels.
• Requires notify.hx⁠ (pulled in automatically as a dependency) for create/rename/delete notifications.
• Uses glyph.hx⁠ for all the diffrent icons.