Inspired by nnn's type-to-nav mode for xplr, with some tweaks.

Features

Activate type-to-nav mode and type the first character of relative path. Current directory is filtered accordingly. If the same characters follows on all files, you don't need to type them.When only one entry remains, if it is a directory or a valid symlink to a directory, this directory is entered, filter is reset and you can continue navigating. If it is a file, type-to-nav mode exits, focusing on that file.

In selecting mode, when entries are narrowed to a single file, the file is toggled to selection and filter is reset without exiting type-to-nav. Accepting (enter) toggle the file to selection without resetting filters.

Also:

• When user types '.' as a first character, plugin disables filter that hides files starting with '.'.
• If user types a key that would lead to an empty entries, this key is canceled.
• Always focus on the shortest path, so you never need to use up/down to select an entry (accept key and printable characters will suffice). Amongst equally short paths, will focus the first one.

Installation

Install manually

• Add the following line in ~/.config/xplr/init.lua

  local home = os.getenv("HOME")
  package.path = home
  .. "/.config/xplr/plugins/?/init.lua;"
  .. home
  .. "/.config/xplr/plugins/?.lua;"
  .. package.path

• Clone the plugin

  mkdir -p ~/.config/xplr/plugins
  
  git clone https://github.com/prncss-xyz/type-to-nav.xplr ~/.config/xplr/plugins/type-to-nav

• Require the module in ~/.config/xplr/init.lua

  require("type-to-nav").setup()
  
  -- Or
  
  require("type-to-nav").setup({
    default_bindings = false,
  })
  
  local function merge_in(t1, t2)
    for k, v in pairs(t2) do
      t1[k] = v
    end
  end
  
  xplr.config.modes.builtin.default.key_bindings.on_key['n'] = {
    help = 'type-to-nav',
    messages = {
      { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_start' },
    },
  }
  xplr.config.modes.builtin.default.key_bindings.on_key['N'] = {
    help = 'type-to-nav',
    messages = {
      { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_start_selecting' },
    },
  }
  merge_in(xplr.config.modes.custom.type_to_nav.key_bindings.on_key, {
    esc = {
      help = 'quit mode',
      messages = { { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_quit' } },
    },
    ['ctrl-u'] = {
      help = 'clear input',
      messages = { { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_clear_input' } },
    },
    ['ctrl-v'] = {
      help = 'toggle selecting',
      messages = { { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_toggle_selecting' } },
    },
    ['ctrl-h'] = {
      help = 'up',
      messages = { { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_up' } },
    },
    backspace = {
      help = 'remove last characters',
      messages = {
        { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_back' },
      },
    },
    enter = {
      help = 'accept',
      messages = { { CallLuaSilently = 'custom.type_to_nav_accept' } },
    },
    ['ctrl-p'] = { help = 'focus previous', messages = { 'FocusPrevious' } },
    ['ctrl-n'] = { help = 'focus next', messages = { 'FocusNext' } },
    ['ctrl-s'] = { help = 'toggle select', messages = { 'ToggleSelection' } },
    ['ctrl-a'] = {
      help = 'toggle select all',
      messages = { 'ToggleSelectAll' },
    },
  })

TODO / not working

• restore dot filter on dir change
• proper spacebar handling
• proper unicode handling on backspace
• cover cases relative to entering directory where all files starts the same
• refactor code
  • break big function
  • merge redundent code