Files
Browse local and remote files over SFTP, transfer between panes, and open a shell in the current directory.
The Files tab is a dual-pane browser. Each pane can be local or remote, in any combination (local↔local, local↔remote, remote↔remote). Press 4, or F on a host from Hosts to open Files and connect that host on the right pane.
Pane modes
| Tone | Meaning |
|---|---|
Slate label local | Local filesystem |
Amber remote | Disconnected: pick a host |
| Teal host alias | Connected over SFTP |
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
L / R | Make the focused pane local / remote |
w | Swap left and right panes |
h / l | Parent / enter directory |
g / G | Top / bottom of list |
/ | Edit path (or search hosts on a picker) |
f / s | Fuzzy jump (type to filter, then a label letter to land) |
D | Disconnect a connected remote pane |
Connecting
In a remote pane, select a host and press Enter. Bast prepares cloud access the same way as a normal connection, then opens OpenSSH SFTP (ssh -s sftp).
SFTP uses BatchMode, so passphrase and host-key prompts cannot interrupt the TUI. If connect fails, unlock the key with ssh-add, or Connect once from Hosts to accept the host key, then retry.
Navigation
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
↑ / ↓ or j / k | Move |
Enter | Enter directory, or connect selected host |
h / Backspace | Parent directory |
Tab | Switch pane |
/ | Jump to a typed path (or search hosts) |
. | Toggle hidden files |
␣ | Toggle mark |
v | Start or finish a range mark |
f / s | Fuzzy jump |
Click a pane to focus it, a row to select it, and the same row again to enter a directory or connect a host. Click the path header to edit the path (or search hosts on a picker). Scroll wheel moves the pane under the pointer.
Fuzzy jump
Press f or s on a file list. Entries go muted until you type. Matches light up and get a letter label (a, s, d, …). Keep typing to narrow, or type a label letter to jump there (flash-style). Esc cancels.
Copy and move always target the other pane’s current directory.
Transfers and edits
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
c | Copy marked items (or the cursor row) to the other pane |
m | Move (copy, then delete source) |
d | Delete (confirm by typing the name, or DELETE for a batch) |
a | Create directory |
r | Rename |
i | File info (name, type, size, mode) |
p | Change permissions (chmod) on local or remote items |
esc / x | Cancel an in-progress transfer |
File info
Press i on the cursor row. The focused pane shows name, type, size, mode (octal and symbolic), and modified time. j/k move to the next or previous item while info stays open. p jumps into the permissions editor. i or Esc closes.
Permissions
Press p on the cursor row or marked items. The focused pane opens an inline permissions grid for Owner / Group / Other with Read / Write / Exec. The current mode seeds the checkboxes.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
← → ↑ ↓ or h j k l | Move across the grid |
Space or x | Toggle the focused bit (or recursive / octal focus) |
0–7 | Set the current class (owner/group/other) to that octal digit |
u g o | Jump to Owner / Group / Other |
/ | Edit the octal mode directly |
Enter | Apply |
Esc | Cancel |
When any selected path is a directory, a contents option appears. Turn it on to apply the mode recursively (symlinks are skipped while walking).
Works the same on local and remote panes. The other pane stays visible while you edit.
Open a shell here
Press t on a local pane for $SHELL in that directory, or on a connected remote pane for ssh with cwd set (host RemoteCommand is cleared for this jump). On a host picker, t opens a normal SSH session for the selected host.
What this is not (yet)
Deferred for later:
- Fuzzy find across the whole tree (current
fjump is per-pane listing) - Directory sync / mirror
- Trash / undo
- chown UI
- Inline previews
- Shared ControlMaster connections
Native OpenSSH
Transfers use your system ssh binary and the same SSH config as Connect, including ProxyJump and cloud ProxyCommand tunnels.