https://github.com/jackspirou/scout
A modern macOS file manager built with Swift and AppKit. Replaces Finder for power users.
https://github.com/jackspirou/scout
Last synced: 3 months ago
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A modern macOS file manager built with Swift and AppKit. Replaces Finder for power users.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/jackspirou/scout
- Owner: jackspirou
- License: agpl-3.0
- Created: 2026-03-11T16:39:58.000Z (3 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-20T00:16:17.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-03-20T12:40:27.218Z (3 months ago)
- Language: Swift
- Size: 5.34 MB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Scout
A native macOS file manager built with Swift and AppKit.
[](https://github.com/jackspirou/scout/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](LICENSE)
Scout replaces Finder for power users who want true cut-and-paste, tabbed
browsing with session memory, and keyboard-first navigation.
## Features
- True cut/copy/move (Cmd+X/C/V) with undo support
- Tabbed browsing with per-tab selection and scroll memory
- Inline preview pane for images, text, audio, video, PDFs, and archives
- Persistent per-folder view settings (list, icon grid, column browser)
- Command palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
- Named workspaces -- save and restore window layouts
- Session restore -- tabs, selections, and scroll positions on relaunch
- Scoped search with searchfs(2) for instant filename matching
- Batch rename
- Get Info panel with permissions editor
- Connect to Server for network volumes
- Global hotkey (Opt+Space) to summon Scout from anywhere
## Install
### Homebrew
```
brew install --cask jackspirou/tap/scout
```
To update to the latest version:
```
brew update && brew upgrade --cask jackspirou/tap/scout
```
To reinstall (useful if the app isn't launching correctly):
```
brew reinstall --cask jackspirou/tap/scout
```
### Download
Grab the latest `.dmg` or `.app.zip` from
[GitHub Releases](https://github.com/jackspirou/scout/releases).
### Build from source
```
git clone https://github.com/jackspirou/scout.git
cd scout
make app
make install
```
## Requirements
- macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel
For building from source:
- Xcode Command Line Tools (`xcode-select --install`)
- [XcodeGen](https://github.com/yonaskolb/XcodeGen) (`brew install xcodegen`) -- required for `make app`
## Development
```
make build # Debug build (SPM)
make run # Build and launch Scout
make test # Run the test suite
make lint # Run swiftformat --lint + build
make release # Optimised release build (SPM)
make app # Build .app bundle via xcodebuild
make dmg # Create distributable .dmg
make install # Copy .app to /Applications
make clean # Remove all build artifacts
```
## Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|-------------------------|------------------|
| Toggle preview pane | Cmd+Shift+Space |
| Cut | Cmd+X |
| Copy | Cmd+C |
| Paste / Move | Cmd+V |
| Command palette | Cmd+Shift+P |
| Search | Cmd+F |
| New tab | Cmd+T |
| Close tab | Cmd+W |
| Next tab | Ctrl+Tab |
| Previous tab | Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Go to parent directory | Cmd+Up |
| Open selected item | Enter |
| Quick Look preview | Space |
| Toggle hidden files | Cmd+Shift+. |
| Rename | F2 |
| Delete | Cmd+Backspace |
| New folder | Cmd+Shift+N |
| Path bar editing | Cmd+L |
| Save workspace | Ctrl+Cmd+S |
| Summon Scout | Opt+Space |
## License
Scout is licensed under the [GNU Affero General Public License v3.0](LICENSE).
## Contributing
Contributions welcome! Please open an issue to discuss before submitting a PR.