better-files

better-files is an experimental native macOS file manager built with SwiftUI. It is trying to feel closer to Windows File Explorer while still behaving like a real macOS app: top tabs, direct path entry, sidebar navigation, Finder-style file actions, file icons, multiple layouts, drag and drop, and fast folder switching.

Read this first

This app is early beta software. It can browse, create, rename, move, copy, delete, trash, and permanently delete files. It is not guaranteed to be bug-free, it may behave differently from Finder, and it can affect real files on disk. Keep backups and do not use it as your only file manager yet.

Release builds are currently not signed or notarized by Apple. macOS may show a warning that the app is from an unidentified developer. That is expected for now.

Install

Homebrew

Install from this repo's cask tap:

brew tap opencoredev/better-files https://github.com/opencoredev/better-files
brew install --cask better-files

If macOS blocks the app because it is not notarized, remove the quarantine flag:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/better-files.app
open /Applications/better-files.app

GitHub Releases

Download the latest DMG:

curl -L -o better-files-macos-universal.dmg \
  https://github.com/opencoredev/better-files/releases/latest/download/better-files-macos-universal.dmg
open better-files-macos-universal.dmg

Drag better-files.app into /Applications, then use the xattr command above if macOS blocks launch.

Updates

better-files includes Sparkle for in-app updates. Release builds check:

https://github.com/opencoredev/better-files/releases/latest/download/appcast.xml

The app shows a normal "Check for Updates..." menu item. Automatic checks are enabled by default, but automatic installation is not: users should see an update prompt and choose whether to install.

Updater signing uses Sparkle EdDSA keys. The appcast and update zip are signed by Sparkle, but the macOS app itself is still not Apple Developer ID signed or notarized yet.

Release a Version

The release workflow runs when a v* tag is pushed. It builds the app, packages a zip for Sparkle, creates a DMG for humans, generates and signs appcast.xml, uploads checksums, and publishes a GitHub release.

Before releasing, add these GitHub repository secrets:

SPARKLE_PUBLIC_ED_KEY
SPARKLE_PRIVATE_ED_KEY

Generate keys with Sparkle's tools:

curl -L -o /tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM.zip \
  https://github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle/releases/download/2.9.2/Sparkle-for-Swift-Package-Manager.zip
rm -rf /tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM
unzip -q /tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM.zip -d /tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM
/tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM/bin/generate_keys
/tmp/Sparkle-for-SPM/bin/generate_keys -x /tmp/better-files-sparkle-private-key

Use the printed public key as SPARKLE_PUBLIC_ED_KEY. Use the contents of /tmp/better-files-sparkle-private-key as SPARKLE_PRIVATE_ED_KEY, then delete that local file after saving the secret.

Create a release:

git tag v0.1.0
git push origin v0.1.0

Development

Open in Xcode:

open better-files.xcodeproj

Regenerate the Xcode project:

xcodegen generate

Run tests:

xcodebuild test \
  -scheme BetterFiles \
  -destination 'platform=macOS,arch=arm64' \
  -derivedDataPath .derived-test \
  CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

The updater is disabled in local development unless a Sparkle public key is provided through SPARKLE_PUBLIC_ED_KEY.