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Open Stus
An open source dual-pane terminal file manager built around familiar keyboard workflows and software I can adapt myself.
The idea
I have used keyboard-driven file managers for years. Their two-panel layout and familiar shortcuts are part of how I work. When I wanted an alternative I could shape myself, I used an AI coding agent to build a first version from a screenshot and a description of the experience I wanted.
That project was initially called Open Commander. It is now Open Stus, named in tribute to the Ukrainian poet Vasyl Stus.
What was built
Open Stus is a dual-pane console file manager written in C# on .NET 10. It follows the orthodox file-manager layout: two panels, a command line, a function-key bar, and navigation designed around the keyboard.
The application uses terminal escape sequences rather than a graphical interface. Its source is designed for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and it is licensed under MIT.
Why I am building it
Owning the implementation changes the next question. Instead of finding a workaround for something the tool does poorly, I can change the tool to fit the workflow.
AI made the first version much easier to create. Refining the interface, checking file operations, and getting the shortcuts right remain engineering work. That combination is the part I want to explore: inexpensive development makes small, personal tools worth building.