TileFM

Tile-based File Manager for MX Linux 23.6 XFCE

Features (Skeleton v0.1)

• Tile Workspaces: Multiple directory tiles in one window
• Project Layouts: Save and restore tile arrangements
• View Modes: Icon, List, Details
• Breadcrumb Path Bar: Clickable breadcrumbs + editable path (Ctrl+L)
• Async Directory Loading: Non-blocking file operations
• Drag & Drop: Between tiles and external apps

Tech Stack

• Vala 0.56+
• GTK3
• Meson build system
• GIO (async file operations)
• JSON-GLib (layout persistence)

Building

Prerequisites (MX Linux 23.6)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y \
    valac \
    libgtk-3-dev \
    libgee-0.8-dev \
    libjson-glib-dev \
    meson \
    ninja-build

Compile

meson setup build
cd build
ninja

Install

sudo ninja install
sudo update-desktop-database

Run

tilefm
# or from build directory:
./tilefm

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
Ctrl+T	New Tile
Ctrl+W	Close Tile
Ctrl+L	Edit Path
F3	Split View (toggle)
F5	Refresh
Ctrl+Q	Quit

Project Structure

tilefm/
├── meson.build
├── src/
│   ├── meson.build
│   ├── main.vala
│   ├── application.vala
│   ├── window.vala
│   ├── core/
│   │   ├── file_manager.vala
│   │   ├── async_worker.vala
│   │   └── layout_manager.vala
│   ├── tile/
│   │   ├── tile.vala
│   │   └── tile_container.vala
│   ├── view/
│   │   ├── file_view.vala
│   │   ├── icon_view.vala
│   │   └── list_view.vala
│   └── widgets/
│       └── breadcrumb_pathbar.vala
├── data/
│   ├── meson.build
│   └── com.github.tilefm.desktop.in
└── README.md

Roadmap

v0.1 Skeleton (current)

• Basic window with tiles
• Icon/List/Details view
• Breadcrumb path bar
• Async directory loading
• Layout save/load

v1.0 MVP

• Typeahead search
• Quick Look (Space preview)
• Preview Panel (F11)
• Undo/Redo
• Bulk Rename
• Configurable Shortcuts
• Custom Actions (Thunar UCA compatible)
• Thumbnails (Tumbler integration)
• Archive Plugin
• Automount
• Network (GVfs)

v2.0 Power User

• Miller Columns
• Integrated Terminal (F4)
• Tree View (F7)
• Plugin System (Lua)
• Git Integration
• Directory Comparison
• Command Palette

License

GPL-3.0+