The CLI utility that turns messy text, directory trees, and indented outlines into real project or directory structures. Build structures from scratch. Refine messy inputs. Automate your setup.
Features • Installation • Examples • Usage • Contributing
The Scenario: You're sketching a project architecture in a text file, or maybe ChatGPT just generated a perfect folder structure for you.
The Problem: Manually creating specifically nested folders and files is tedious, error-prone, and slow.
The Solution: Feed that text into tr2rl. It parses seemingly "broken" or "messy" trees and instantly builds the real file structure for you.
- For AI Users: ChatGPT and Claude give you ASCII trees. You can't execute them.
tr2rllets you copy-paste-build in seconds. - For System Architects: Stop writing 20 lines of
mkdir -pandtouchcommands. Just draw the tree. - For Tutorials: Share a lightweight text tree instead of a heavy zip file. Your users can build the repo instantly.
Keywords: Directory tree generator, Project scaffolding, ChatGPT to folder structure, Text to filesystem, Golang CLI tool.
"I just want to create folders from ChatGPT, Gemini, or any AI."
- Copy the tree text from your AI chat.
- Open your terminal in the folder where you want the project.
- Run:
tr2rl build --clipboardWhat this does: It reads the text directly from your clipboard and instantly creates the real files and folders on your computer.
"I want to see what it will do BEFORE it creates files."
- Use the "Dry Run" flag:
- Run:
tr2rl build --clipboard --dry-runWhat this does: It shows you a preview list of every file that WOULD be created, but it does not touch your disk yet. Use this to be safe.
"I'm following a tutorial with a big file tree."
- Copy the tree text from the blog post or documentation.
- Run:
tr2rl build --clipboardWhat this does: It turns that static text diagram into a real starter project instantly.
"I have this messy text from a friend."
- Paste it into a file called
plan.txt. - Run:
tr2rl build plan.txtWhat this does: It reads the structure from the file
plan.txtinstead of the clipboard.
- 🪄 Magic Parsing: Smartly understands Unicode trees (
└──), ASCII trees (|--), Indented lists, and even messy, mixed-format text. - 🛠️ Build & Populate: Creates directories and files instantly. Can auto-fill files with language-specific boilerplate (e.g.,
package mainfor Go). - 🧹 Refine & Format: Takes messy "napkin-sketch" text and formats it into a pristine, professional Unicode tree string.
- 🛡️ Safety Preview: Use
--dry-runto see exactly what would happen before it touches your disk. - 📋 Clipboard Mode: Build or format directly from your system clipboard. No temporary files needed.
- 🚀 Zero Dependencies: A single, static binary. Runs anywhere (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Here are some real-world commands to get you started.
Build a complex project structure from a file, verifying it first.
# Preview what will be created (Dry Run)
.\tr2rl.exe build testdata/grand_finale.tree --dry-run
# Actually create the structure
.\tr2rl.exe build testdata/grand_finale.treeWe've included production-ready architectures in the examples/ folder.
# Microservices with K8s & Docker
.\tr2rl.exe build examples/microservices-k8s.tree ./my-cluster --populate
# Next.js Fullstack (App Router, Tailwind, Supabase)
.\tr2rl.exe build examples/nextjs-fullstack.tree ./my-app --populate
# Python Data Science Project (Cookiecutter style)
.\tr2rl.exe build examples/data-science.tree ./analysis --populateCopy a tree from a chat window or website, then run:
.\tr2rl.exe build --clipboardTurn a messy text file into a clean, shareable tree diagram.
# Format a file
.\tr2rl.exe format testdata/grand_finale.tree
# Format text currently in your clipboard
.\tr2rl.exe format --clipboardbrew tap cytificlabs/tr2rl
brew install tr2rlscoop bucket add cytificlabs https://github.com/cytificlabs/scoop-bucket
scoop install tr2rlsnap install tr2rl
# Note: If not yet stable, try: snap install tr2rl --edgeGo to the Releases Page and download the file for your system.
git clone https://github.com/cytificlabs/tr2rl.git
cd tr2rl
go build -o tr2rl.exe .Parses input text and creates the corresponding directory structure.
Syntax:
tr2rl build [file] [output-dir] [flags]Flags:
--dry-run: Enable preview mode (do not write to disk). Default:false.--force: Overwrite existing files.--populate: Auto-fill created files with boilerplate content.--clipboard: Read input from clipboard instead of a file.
Reads messy input and outputs a clean, canonical Unicode tree. Great for documentation.
Syntax:
tr2rl format [file] [flags]Flags:
--style: Output format. Options:unicode(default) orascii.--clipboard: Read input from clipboard.
View built-in project templates to quick-start your development.
# List all templates
tr2rl template list
# Use a template (pipe it to build)
tr2rl template show react-vite | tr2rl build - ./my-app --dry-run=falsetr2rl is context-aware and handles "noisy" input.
| Style | Example Input |
|---|---|
| Unicode Tree | ├── src/ |
| ASCII Tree | ` |
| Indented List | src (just spaces) |
| Path List | root/src/main.go |
Contributions are welcome!
- Fork the Project
- Create your Feature Branch (
git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature) - Commit your Changes
- Push to the Branch
- Open a Pull Request
If tr2rl saved you time, consider supporting the development!
- ⭐ Star this repo: It helps others find the tool.
- ☕ Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/cosmicquark
- 🗣️ Share it: Tell your friends or tweet about it!
Distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for more information.