path: root/README.md

fzf - Fuzzy finder for your shell
=================================

fzf is a general-purpose fuzzy finder for your shell.

![](https://raw.github.com/junegunn/i/master/fzf.gif)

It was heavily inspired by [ctrlp.vim](https://github.com/kien/ctrlp.vim) and
the likes.

Installation
------------

Clone this repository and run
[install](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/blob/master/install) script.

```sh
git clone https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.git ~/.fzf
~/.fzf/install
```

In case you don't have git installed:

```sh
mkdir -p ~/.fzf
curl -L https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/archive/master.tar.gz |
    tar xz --strip-components 1 -C ~/.fzf
~/.fzf/install
```

The script will setup:

- `fzf` function (bash, zsh, fish)
- Key bindings (`CTRL-T`, `CTRL-R`, and `ALT-C`) (bash, zsh, fish)
- Fuzzy auto-completion (bash)

If you don't use any of the aforementioned shells, you have to manually place
fzf executable in a directory included in `$PATH`. Key bindings and
auto-completion will not be available in that case.

### Install as Vim plugin

Once you have cloned the repository, add the following line to your .vimrc.

```vim
set rtp+=~/.fzf
```

Or you may use [vim-plug](https://github.com/junegunn/vim-plug) to manage fzf
inside Vim:

```vim
Plug 'junegunn/fzf', { 'dir': '~/.fzf', 'do': 'yes \| ./install' }
```

Usage
-----

```
usage: fzf [options]

  Search
    -x, --extended        Extended-search mode
    -e, --extended-exact  Extended-search mode (exact match)
    -i                    Case-insensitive match (default: smart-case match)
    +i                    Case-sensitive match
    -n, --nth=N[,..]      Comma-separated list of field index expressions
                          for limiting search scope. Each can be a non-zero
                          integer or a range expression ([BEGIN]..[END])
        --with-nth=N[,..] Transform the item using index expressions for search
    -d, --delimiter=STR   Field delimiter regex for --nth (default: AWK-style)

  Search result
    -s, --sort=MAX        Maximum number of matched items to sort (default: 1000)
    +s, --no-sort         Do not sort the result. Keep the sequence unchanged.

  Interface
    -m, --multi           Enable multi-select with tab/shift-tab
        --no-mouse        Disable mouse
    +c, --no-color        Disable colors
    +2, --no-256          Disable 256-color
        --black           Use black background
        --reverse         Reverse orientation
        --prompt=STR      Input prompt (default: '> ')

  Scripting
    -q, --query=STR       Start the finder with the given query
    -1, --select-1        Automatically select the only match
    -0, --exit-0          Exit immediately when there's no match
    -f, --filter=STR      Filter mode. Do not start interactive finder.
        --print-query     Print query as the first line

  Environment variables
    FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND   Default command to use when input is tty
    FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS      Defaults options. (e.g. "-x -m --sort 10000")
```

fzf will launch curses-based finder, read the list from STDIN, and write the
selected item to STDOUT.

```sh
find * -type f | fzf > selected
```

Without STDIN pipe, fzf will use find command to fetch the list of
files excluding hidden ones. (You can override the default command with
`FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND`)

```sh
vim $(fzf)
```

If you want to preserve the exact sequence of the input, provide `--no-sort` (or
`+s`) option.

```sh
history | fzf +s
```

### Keys

Use CTRL-J and CTRL-K (or CTRL-N and CTRL-P) to change the selection, press
enter key to select the item. CTRL-C, CTRL-G, or ESC will terminate the finder.

The following readline key bindings should also work as expected.

- CTRL-A / CTRL-E
- CTRL-B / CTRL-F
- CTRL-H / CTRL-D
- CTRL-W / CTRL-U / CTRL-Y
- ALT-B / ALT-F

If you enable multi-select mode with `-m` option, you can select multiple items
with TAB or Shift-TAB key.

You can also use mouse. Double-click on an item to select it or shift-click (or
ctrl-click) to select multiple items. Use mouse wheel to move the cursor up and
down.

### Extended-search mode

With `-x` or `--extended` option, fzf will start in "extended-search mode".

In this mode, you can specify multiple patterns delimited by spaces,
such as: `^music .mp3$ sbtrkt !rmx`

| Token    | Description                      | Match type           |
| -------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| `^music` | Items that start with `music`    | prefix-exact-match   |
| `.mp3$`  | Items that end with `.mp3`       | suffix-exact-match   |
| `sbtrkt` | Items that match `sbtrkt`        | fuzzy-match          |
| `!rmx`   | Items that do not match `rmx`    | inverse-fuzzy-match  |
| `'wild`  | Items that include `wild`        | exact-match (quoted) |
| `!'fire` | Items that do not include `fire` | inverse-exact-match  |

If you don't need fuzzy matching and do not wish to "quote" every word, start
fzf with `-e` or `--extended-exact` option.

Useful examples
---------------

```sh
# fe [FUZZY PATTERN] - Open the selected file with the default editor
#   - Bypass fuzzy finder if there's only one match (--select-1)
#   - Exit if there's no match (--exit-0)
fe() {
  local file
  file=$(fzf --query="$1" --select-1 --exit-0)
  [ -n "$file" ] && ${EDITOR:-vim} "$file"
}

# fd - cd to selected directory
fd() {
  local dir
  dir=$(find ${1:-*} -path '*/\.*' -prune \
                  -o -type d -print 2> /dev/null | fzf +m) &&
  cd "$dir"
}

# fh - repeat history
fh() {
  eval $(([ -n "$ZSH_NAME" ] && fc -l 1 || history) | fzf +s | sed 's/ *[0-9]* *//')
}

# fkill - kill process
fkill() {
  ps -ef | sed 1d | fzf -m | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill -${1:-9}
}
```

For more examples, see [the wiki
page](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/wiki/examples).

Key bindings for command line
-----------------------------

The install script will setup the following key bindings for bash, zsh, and
fish.

- `CTRL-T` - Paste the selected file path(s) into the command line
- `CTRL-R` - Paste the selected command from history into the command line
- `ALT-C` - cd into the selected directory

If you're on a tmux session, `CTRL-T` will launch fzf in a new split-window. You
may disable this tmux integration by setting `FZF_TMUX` to 0, or change the
height of the window with `FZF_TMUX_HEIGHT` (e.g. `20`, `50%`).

If you use vi mode on bash, you need to add `set -o vi` *before* `source
~/.fzf.bash` in your .bashrc, so that it correctly sets up key bindings for vi
mode.

If you want to customize the key bindings, consider editing the
installer-generated source code: `~/.fzf.bash`, `~/.fzf.zsh`, and
`~/.config/fish/functions/fzf_key_bindings.fish`.

Auto-completion
---------------

Disclaimer: *Auto-completion feature is currently experimental, it can change
over time*

### bash

#### Files and directories

Fuzzy completion for files and directories can be triggered if the word before
the cursor ends with the trigger sequence which is by default `**`.

- `COMMAND [DIRECTORY/][FUZZY_PATTERN]**<TAB>`

```sh
# Files under current directory
# - You can select multiple items with TAB key
vim **<TAB>

# Files under parent directory
vim ../**<TAB>

# Files under parent directory that match `fzf`
vim ../fzf**<TAB>

# Files under your home directory
vim ~/**<TAB>


# Directories under current directory (single-selection)
cd **<TAB>

# Directories under ~/github that match `fzf`
cd ~/github/fzf**<TAB>
```

#### Process IDs

Fuzzy completion for PIDs is provided for kill command. In this case
there is no trigger sequence, just press tab key after kill command.

```sh
# Can select multiple processes with <TAB> or <Shift-TAB> keys
kill -9 <TAB>
```

#### Host names

For ssh and telnet commands, fuzzy completion for host names is provided. The
names are extracted from /etc/hosts and ~/.ssh/config.

```sh
ssh **<TAB>
telnet **<TAB>
```

#### Environment variables / Aliases

```sh
unset **<TAB>
export **<TAB>
unalias **<TAB>
```

#### Settings

```sh
# Use ~~ as the trigger sequence instead of the default **
export FZF_COMPLETION_TRIGGER='~~'

# Options to fzf command
export FZF_COMPLETION_OPTS='+c -x'
```

### zsh

TODO :smiley:

(Pull requests are appreciated.)

Usage as Vim plugin
-------------------

(Note: To use fzf in GVim, an external terminal emulator is required.)

### `:FZF[!]`

If you have set up fzf for Vim, `:FZF` command will be added.

```vim
" Look for files under current directory
:FZF

" Look for files under your home directory
:FZF ~

" With options
:FZF --no-sort -m /tmp
```

Note that the environment variables `FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND` and `FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS`
also apply here.

If you're on a tmux session, `:FZF` will launch fzf in a new split-window whose
height can be adjusted with `g:fzf_tmux_height` (default: '40%'). However, the
bang version (`:FZF!`) will always start in fullscreen.

In GVim, you need an external terminal emulator to start fzf with. `xterm`
command is used by default, but you can customize it with `g:fzf_launcher`.

```vim
" This is the default. %s is replaced with fzf command
let g:fzf_launcher = 'xterm -e bash -ic %s'

" Use urxvt instead
let g:fzf_launcher = 'urxvt -geometry 120x30 -e sh -c %s'
```

If you're running MacVim on OSX, I recommend you to use iTerm2 as the launcher.
Refer to the [this wiki
page](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/wiki/fzf-with-MacVim-and-iTerm2) to see
how to set up.

### `fzf#run([options])`

For more advanced uses, you can call `fzf#run()` function which returns the list
of the selected items.

`fzf#run()` may take an options-dictionary:

| Option name     | Type          | Description                                                        |
| --------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `source`        | string        | External command to generate input to fzf (e.g. `find .`)          |
| `source`        | list          | Vim list as input to fzf                                           |
| `sink`          | string        | Vim command to handle the selected item (e.g. `e`, `tabe`)         |
| `sink`          | funcref       | Reference to function to process each selected item                |
| `options`       | string        | Options to fzf                                                     |
| `dir`           | string        | Working directory                                                  |
| `tmux_width`    | number/string | Use tmux vertical split with the given height (e.g. `20`, `50%`)   |
| `tmux_height`   | number/string | Use tmux horizontal split with the given height (e.g. `20`, `50%`) |
| `launcher`      | string        | External terminal emulator to start fzf with (Only used in GVim)   |

#### Examples

If `sink` option is not given, `fzf#run` will simply return the list.

```vim
let items = fzf#run({ 'options': '-m +c', 'dir': '~', 'source': 'ls' })
```

But if `sink` is given as a string, the command will be executed for each
selected item.

```vim
" Each selected item will be opened in a new tab
let items = fzf#run({ 'sink': 'tabe', 'options': '-m +c', 'dir': '~', 'source': 'ls' })
```

We can also use a Vim list as the source as follows:

```vim
" Choose a color scheme with fzf
nnoremap <silent> <Leader>C :call fzf#run({
\   'source':
\     map(split(globpath(&rtp, "colors/*.vim"), "\n"),
\         "substitute(fnamemodify(v:val, ':t'), '\\..\\{-}$', '', '')"),
\   'sink':       'colo',
\   'options':    '+m',
\   'tmux_width': 20,
\   'launcher':   'xterm -geometry 20x30 -e bash -ic %s'
\ })<CR>
```

`sink` option can be a function reference. The following example creates a
handy mapping that selects an open buffer.

```vim
" List of buffers
function! BufList()
  redir => ls
  silent ls
  redir END
  return split(ls, '\n')
endfunction

function! BufOpen(e)
  execute 'buffer '. matchstr(a:e, '^[ 0-9]*')
endfunction

nnoremap <silent> <Leader><Enter> :call fzf#run({
\   'source':      reverse(BufList()),
\   'sink':        function('BufOpen'),
\   'options':     '+m',
\   'tmux_height': '40%'
\ })<CR>
```

### Articles

- [fzf+vim+tmux](http://junegunn.kr/2014/04/fzf+vim+tmux)

Tips
----

### Rendering issues

If you have any rendering issues, check the followings:

1. Make sure `$TERM` is correctly set. fzf will use 256-color only if it
  contains `256` (e.g. `xterm-256color`)
2. If you're on screen or tmux, `$TERM` should be either `screen` or
  `screen-256color`
3. Some terminal emulators (e.g. mintty) have problem displaying default
  background color and make some text unable to read. In that case, try `--black`
  option. And if it solves your problem, I recommend including it in
  `FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS` for further convenience.
4. If you still have problem, try `--no-256` option or even `--no-color`.

### Respecting `.gitignore`, `.hgignore`, and `svn:ignore`

[ag](https://github.com/ggreer/the_silver_searcher) or
[pt](https://github.com/monochromegane/the_platinum_searcher) will do the
filtering:

```sh
# Feed the output of ag into fzf
ag -l -g "" | fzf

# Setting ag as the default source for fzf
export FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND='ag -l -g ""'

# Now fzf (w/o pipe) will use ag instead of find
fzf
```

### `git ls-tree` for fast traversal

If you're running fzf in a large git repository, `git ls-tree` can boost up the
speed of the traversal.

```sh
# Copy the original fzf function to __fzf
declare -f __fzf > /dev/null ||
  eval "$(echo "__fzf() {"; declare -f fzf | \grep -v '^{' | tail -n +2)"

# Use git ls-tree when possible
fzf() {
  if [ -n "$(git rev-parse HEAD 2> /dev/null)" ]; then
    FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND="git ls-tree -r --name-only HEAD" __fzf "$@"
  else
    __fzf "$@"
  fi
}
```

### Using fzf with tmux splits

It isn't too hard to write your own fzf-tmux combo like the default
CTRL-T key binding. (Or is it?)

```sh
# This is a helper function that splits the current pane to start the given
# command ($1) and sends its output back to the original pane with any number of
# optional keys (shift; $*).
fzf_tmux_helper() {
  [ -n "$TMUX_PANE" ] || return
  local cmd=$1
  shift
  tmux split-window -p 40 \
    "bash -c \"\$(tmux send-keys -t $TMUX_PANE \"\$(source ~/.fzf.bash; $cmd)\" $*)\""
}

# This is the function we are going to run in the split pane.
# - "find" to list the directories
# - "sed" will escape spaces in the paths.
# - "paste" will join the selected paths into a single line
fzf_tmux_dir() {
  fzf_tmux_helper \
    'find * -path "*/\.*" -prune -o -type d -print 2> /dev/null |
     fzf --multi |
     sed "s/ /\\\\ /g" |
     paste -sd" " -' Space
}

# Bind CTRL-X-CTRL-D to fzf_tmux_dir
bind '"\C-x\C-d": "$(fzf_tmux_dir)\e\C-e"'
```

### Fish shell

It's [a known bug of fish](https://github.com/fish-shell/fish-shell/issues/1362)
that it doesn't allow reading from STDIN in command substitution, which means
simple `vim (fzf)` won't work as expected. The workaround is to store the result
of fzf to a temporary file.

```sh
function vimf
  if fzf > $TMPDIR/fzf.result
    vim (cat $TMPDIR/fzf.result)
  end
end

function fe
  set tmp $TMPDIR/fzf.result
  fzf --query="$argv[1]" --select-1 --exit-0 > $tmp
  if [ (cat $tmp | wc -l) -gt 0 ]
    vim (cat $tmp)
  end
end
```

### Handling UTF-8 NFD paths on OSX

Use iconv to convert NFD paths to NFC:

```sh
find . | iconv -f utf-8-mac -t utf8//ignore | fzf
```

License
-------

[MIT](LICENSE)

Author
------

Junegunn Choi