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CLI file & search tools, ranked by value — not ad spend

The modern Unix toolbox: single static binaries, mostly Rust, that embarrass their POSIX ancestors on speed. Proof-of-work efficiency at its purest.

No paid placement. Ranked by evidence against four principles: transparency, value density, privacy, efficiency. How we rank →
Our pick
fzf — Fuzzy finder for everything in your terminal 5.0
#ToolT·V·P·EIndexType
1 fzf
Fuzzy finder for everything in your terminal
5.0 self-host
2 ripgrep
Regex search that embarrasses grep on speed
5.0 self-host
3 fd
Friendly, fast alternative to find
5.0 self-host ~
4 bat
cat with wings — syntax highlighting & git
4.8 self-host ~
5 duf
df you can actually read
4.8 self-host ~
6 dust
du with an instantly readable tree
4.8 self-host ~
7 eza
Modern ls with git awareness
4.8 self-host ~

Max ~7 listings per category, by design — curation is the product. Think something belongs here? Submit it; it has to displace an incumbent.