As a developer moving between macOS and Windows, the "Reverse Culture Shock" of file navigation was real. I deeply missed the Miller Columns (column view) and the Quick Look feature from macOS Finder. Windows Explorer felt clunky, slow, and lacked the productivity tools power users need.
So, I decided to build my own: SPAN Finder.
🌲 Why Miller Columns?
Traditional Windows navigation requires constant "Back" clicks or multiple windows. With Miller Columns, you can navigate deep directory structures horizontally. You always know exactly where you are and where you came from.
🚀 Built for Speed (WinUI 3 + .NET 8)
C# doesn't have to be slow. SPAN Finder uses Async I/O and SemaphoreSlim to handle directories with 14,000+ items without a single UI freeze. It's lightweight, responsive, and native to Windows 11.
🛠️ Key Features for Power Users:
Multi-Tab & Split View: True dual-pane workflow with session restore.
Quick Look (Spacebar): Preview code, images, and PDFs instantly.
Developer Tools: Git status badges, Hex viewer, and Terminal integration (Ctrl+`).
Themes: 10+ themes including Dracula, Tokyo Night, and Catppuccin.
🔓 Open Source & Free (For Now!)
I've released SPAN Finder as a fully open-source project (GPL v3.0) on GitHub. I want to build this with the community.
It's currently FREE on the Microsoft Store until the end of April. After that, it will transition to a paid app (though you can always build it from source for free).
GitHub: https://github.com/LumiBearStudio/SpanFinder
MS Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9P7NJ351X9TL
Top comments (1)
Thanks for checking out my project! I'm curious—what's the one feature you wish Windows Explorer had that's currently missing? I'd love to hear your ideas for future updates!