https://github.com/krisfur/fex
Interactive system package search TUI in rust.
https://github.com/krisfur/fex
cli interactive-search package-installer package-management search terminal-based tui
Last synced: 2 months ago
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Interactive system package search TUI in rust.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/krisfur/fex
- Owner: krisfur
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-02-21T11:58:49.000Z (4 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-18T21:55:46.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-03-19T10:55:15.891Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: cli, interactive-search, package-installer, package-management, search, terminal-based, tui
- Language: Rust
- Homepage: https://crates.io/crates/fex
- Size: 309 KB
- Stars: 5
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 1
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# fex
A universal interactive package search TUI.
## Supported Providers
- **apk** - Alpine Linux
- **apt** - Debian/Ubuntu
- **brew** - Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
- **dnf** - Fedora/RHEL
- **flatpak** - Flatpak (cross-distro, searches Flathub and other remotes)
- **nix** - Nix/NixOS
- **pacman** - Arch Linux (official repos)
- **paru** - Arch AUR helper (official repos + AUR)
- **snap** - Snap (cross-distro, searches the Snap Store)
- **xbps** - Void Linux
- **yay** - Arch AUR helper (official repos + AUR)
- **zerobrew** - Zerobrew (Homebrew drop-in)
- **zypper** - openSUSE
> On some systems the first search may be slow if the package manager cache needs updating.
## Installation
Install `rust` following official instructions [here](https://rust-lang.org/tools/install/).
Then simply run:
```bash
cargo install fex
```
On macOS with Homebrew, you can also install it from the tap:
```bash
brew install krisfur/tap/fex
```
## Building
With `cargo`:
```bash
cargo build --release
```
The binary ends up at `target/release/fex`.
## Usage
```bash
fex # Auto-detect best available provider
fex -p pacman # Use a specific provider
fex -l # List available providers
fex -h # Show help
fex -V # Show version
```
## Controls
| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| Type | Search for packages |
| Up / Down | Navigate results |
| PgUp / PgDn | Navigate by page |
| Home / End | Jump to first / last result |
| Enter | Install selected package |
| Escape | Clear search |
| Ctrl+X | Quit |
## Testing with Docker
Install Docker (example for Arch):
```bash
sudo pacman -S docker
sudo systemctl enable --now docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker # or logout/login
```
Then run a distro container with `fex` already built:
```bash
./testing/test.sh alpine # Alpine (apk)
./testing/test.sh arch # Arch Linux (pacman, yay)
./testing/test.sh fedora # Fedora (dnf)
./testing/test.sh flatpak # Flatpak with Flathub
./testing/test.sh homebrew # Linuxbrew (brew)
./testing/test.sh nixos # NixOS (nix)
./testing/test.sh opensuse # openSUSE (zypper)
./testing/test.sh snap # Snap Store (requires privileged — handled automatically)
./testing/test.sh ubuntu # Ubuntu (apt)
./testing/test.sh void # Void Linux (xbps)
./testing/test.sh zerobrew # Zerobrew (brew symlink)
```
Podman works as a drop-in replacement — the script detects it automatically.
## Adding a New Provider
1. Create `src/providers/yourprovider.rs` and implement the `Provider` trait:
- `name()` — provider name string
- `is_available()` — check if the tool exists (`command_exists("tool")`)
- `search(query)` — run the search command and return a `SearchResult`
- `install_command(pkg)` — return the install command string
- Optionally override `source_color(source)` for colored source badges
2. Declare the module in `src/providers/mod.rs` and add it to `create_provider()`, `auto_detect_provider()`, and `get_available_providers()`
## Inspiration
Based on my prior work on the C++26 version of this [paclook](https://github.com/krisfur/paclook).