ctpv ☆

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Description:
Image previews for lf file manager

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 1.1@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Productivity

Tags: file-manager preview terminal cli utility

Install: brew install ctpv

About:
ctpv is a command-line utility that provides rich file previews within the lf file manager. It leverages the libmagic library to accurately identify file types and uses external tools to render previews for images, PDFs, and other media directly in the terminal. This significantly enhances the user experience by allowing for quick visual inspection of files without leaving the file manager.

Key Features:

Supports image previews via various backends (chafa, kitty, sixel)
Handles PDFs, videos, and archives with custom preview scripts
Uses libmagic for robust file type detection
Seamless integration with the lf terminal file manager

Use Cases:

Previewing images and documents directly in lf before opening them
Quickly browsing directories containing mixed media and archive files
Enhancing terminal-based workflows with rich visual feedback

Alternatives:

lf – lf is the file manager itself; ctpv is a dedicated previewer specifically designed to extend lf's capabilities.
ranger – Ranger is a full-featured file manager with built-in previews, whereas ctpv provides a more specialized and configurable preview solution for lf.

License: MIT

Dependencies: libmagic, openssl@3

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

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