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

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	Navigate
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
Esc	Switch focus to the editor, panel stays open
q	Close the panel

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

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
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.

Notes

• Requires notify.hx (pulled in automatically as a dependency) for create/rename/delete notifications.
• Uses glyph.hx for all the diffrent icons.