A modern version of xcopy and why I created it
For years, Windows users have relied on tools like xcopy and robocopy for file operations.
They work.
But the experience has not really evolved.
The Problem
When using xcopy, the output typically looks like this:
file1 copied
file2 copied
file3 copied
file4 copied
...
With robocopy, the opposite happens:
too much output
difficult to track progress
overwhelming for simple tasks
Both tools are functional, but neither feels modern or easy to use.
What I Wanted
I wanted a tool that feels:
clean
minimal
predictable
easy to read
Most importantly, I wanted clear progress feedback without flooding the terminal.
Introducing flow
flow is a modern command-line tool for file operations on Windows.
It focuses on simplicity, clarity, and a better user experience.
Features :
- Copy, move, and delete in a single CLI
- Clean progress display
- Wildcard support (for example: *, *.png)
- Smart conflict handling: overwrite, skip, rename
- Interactive shell mode (flow>)
- Support for both recycle bin and permanent deletion
Example :
Instead of scrolling output:
file1 copied
file2 copied
file3 copied
...
flow provides a clear progress view:
[██████████░░░░░░░░] 60%
Files: 120 / 200
Speed: 45 MB/s
This makes it much easier to understand what is happening in real time.
Usage
flow copy file.txt D:\backup
flow move D:\old D:\archive
flow del D:\cache --yes
Interactive Mode
flow
flow> copy file.txt D:\backup --overwrite
flow> move D:\old D:\archive
flow> del D:\cache --yes
flow> help copy
flow> exit
Why I Built This
The goal was not to replace powerful tools like robocopy.
Instead, it was to create something that:
feels good to use
provides clear feedback
works naturally for everyday tasks
Try It
You can download the project here:
https://github.com/lyneetrastudio/lyneetra_flow_file_operations
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