Finder, the default file manager for the Mac, is extremely mouse driven. Yes, there are a few keyboard shortcuts, but it’s an application primarily built for clicking and dragging files around. That works for most people, but some of us prefer doing everything with the keyboard whenever possible.
If you also prefer a keyboard shortcut over a drag-and-drop, check out Marta, a free alternative file manager built for quickly managing files without moving your hands from the keys. The interface is built around two panes, which you can switch between quickly by pressing the tab key. You navigate to folders using the arrow keys, then press enter open a file. You can press backspace at any time to go up a level. You can press Space to preview a file, just like in Finder, and enter to open it. For an even sleeker option, you can press Command-Enter to choose which application to open a file with, all without using the mouse.
You can still use the mouse if you want, but everything is faster if you use keyboard shortcuts, which you can customize. The real answer, though, is the Actions panel, which you can open using the default keyboard shortcut of Command-Shift-P. This opens an overlay in which you can type to search for a command and then hit enter to run it.
Credit: Justin Pot
This is great, especially when you’re getting started, because it lets you do all the super-fancy commands without the need to memorize all the keyboard shortcuts. Even better, you’ll see the keyboard shortcuts as you go, giving you a way to learn them over time.
If you want more commands, obviously, you’re going to want to open the Terminal. You can activate a Terminal right in the application using the keyboard shortcut Command-O.
Credit: Justin Pot
This opens a Terminal in the folder of your current panel. Even better, the folder of the terminal changes when the folder of your panel changes, and vice versa. Note that the Terminal is tied to the active panel—you can have a separate Terminal for each window, if you like.
There’s a lot more you can dig into here, but it’s honestly best explored first hand. Dive in and see if you like it. I’m not sure if I’ll use this to replace the Finder for all uses, but every once in a while it’s nice to have a power user tool for complex jobs.
