Panevrix, an open-source local file manager.
It has the familiar two-panel workflow and keyboard controls, with two ways to use it: a local browser application or an extension inside VS Code and Cursor.
The browser version runs through a local Node.js process. The extension opens the same workspace in an editor tab and runs its backend inside the editor's extension host.
The project is aimed at developers who want to manage files and inspect binaries, logs, and build artifacts from the same interface.
Try it locally
You need Node.js 20 or newer:
npx panevrix@latest
This starts a local server and opens the application in your browser. Keep the terminal running while you use it.
You can also open two existing folders:
npx panevrix@latest ./project ./backup
Files stay on your machine. No account or cloud storage is required.
Try it in VS Code or Cursor
The initial editor extension, 0.1.0, is now published on the Visual Studio Marketplace. In VS Code, search Extensions for Panevrix and install it, then run Panevrix: Open File Workspace from the Command Palette.
For Cursor, or to install the VSIX manually in either editor:
- Download panevrix-0.1.0.vsix from the GitHub extension release.
- Open the Command Palette in VS Code or Cursor and run Extensions: Install from VSIX….
- Select the downloaded file and reload the editor if prompted.
- Run Panevrix: Open File Workspace.
You can also right-click a file or folder in Explorer and choose Open Here to start Panevrix at that location.
The extension requires VS Code 1.96+, or a compatible Cursor release with Node 20+ in its extension host, and a trusted workspace. It bundles the app, so you don't need to install Node separately or start a localhost server. Opening a file with Enter uses your editor; F3/F4 use Panevrix's internal viewer/editor.
VS Code Marketplace publication is complete; an Open VSX listing for Cursor is still pending. The GitHub download works in both editors today. The npm app and extension have separate version numbers: the published npm app is 1.1.0; extension 0.1.0 bundles the upcoming app 1.2.0.
The familiar Commander workflow
Panevrix supports two independent panels, folder tabs, filtering, sorting, favorites, and keyboard navigation.
Some useful shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab | Switch panels |
| F3 / F4 | View / edit text |
| F5 / F6 | Copy / move |
| F7 | Create a folder |
| Shift+F3 | Open the hex viewer |
| Ctrl+I | Show live item information |
| Ctrl+J | Open background tasks |
Visible buttons provide the same actions when a browser or operating system intercepts a shortcut.
More than copying files
Version 1.1.0 includes:
- Background transfers: progress, cancellation, and stop/skip/keep-both conflict handling. Close the progress window and continue browsing.
- Large-file inspection: a read-only hex viewer with ASCII, bounded text decoding, byte-offset navigation, and hexadecimal-pattern search.
- File comparison: exact byte comparison that reports the first differing offset.
- SHA-256 hashing: streamed calculations without loading the entire file into memory.
- Live information: replace the inactive panel with details that follow the current selection.
- System monitoring: CPU, memory, process information, and application logs.
Large folder listings use virtualized rows, so the browser renders the visible portion rather than creating a row for every file.
Why a browser interface?
For this project, a browser makes it convenient to combine keyboard-driven file management with readable inspection views, progress controls, and system charts.
The backend and frontend use Node.js and browser-native JavaScript, with no runtime dependencies or build step.
There are tradeoffs: browser shortcuts can conflict, and it requires a running local server. It currently has no terminal interface.
What's still missing?
Panevrix is an early project. Archive support, SFTP, standalone installers, and durable task recovery after a server restart are still planned.
Folder comparison currently checks immediate names and metadata; it does not prove that matching files contain identical data.
I'd appreciate your feedback
If you try it, I'd especially like to hear:
- Which workflow would make this useful to you?
- Would you prefer a browser, desktop window, or terminal interface?
- What feels missing compared with your current file manager?
- Does having it inside VS Code or Cursor fit your development workflow?
Source and documentation: GitHub
Published package: npm
VS Code/Cursor download: Editor extension release
VS Code Marketplace: Install Panevrix
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