Configure `fzf` in Ranger

We used AI while writing this content.

fzf is a fast, open‑source command‑line “fuzzy finder” tool that lets you search and filter lists interactively. You can integrate it into ranger to improve its search capacities.

1. Install fzf

   sudo apt install fzf        # Debian/Ubuntu
   sudo pacman -S fzf          # Arch
   brew install fzf            # macOS
   which fzf
   

2. Add the custom commands to ranger
   Edit (or create) ~/.config/ranger/commands.py and add:

   from ranger.api.commands import Command
   import subprocess
   
   class fzf_select(Command):
       def execute(self):
           fzf = subprocess.Popen(
               'find -L . -type f 2>/dev/null | fzf +m',
               shell=True,
               stdout=subprocess.PIPE
           )
           stdout, _ = fzf.communicate()
           if fzf.returncode == 0:
               self.fm.select_file(stdout.decode('utf-8').strip())
   
   class fzf_select_directories(Command):
       def execute(self):
           fzf = subprocess.Popen(
               'find -L . -type d 2>/dev/null | fzf +m',
               shell=True,
               stdout=subprocess.PIPE
           )
           stdout, _ = fzf.communicate()
           if fzf.returncode == 0:
               self.fm.select_file(stdout.decode('utf-8').strip())
   

3. Restart ranger
   After saving, restart ranger. Now you can run:

   • :fzf_select → fuzzy search files
   • :fzf_select_directories → fuzzy search directories