colorls is a Ruby gem that enhances the output of the standard “ls” command in the terminal. It brings visual improvements by adding colorization and font-awesome icons to the file and directory listings, making it more aesthetically pleasing and easier to navigate.
When you install and use the colorls gem, the “ls” command is replaced with an enhanced version. The file and directory listings are displayed with different colors based on their types (e.g., directories, executables, symlinks) or other attributes. This colorization provides a visual cue that helps users quickly distinguish between different types of files.
In addition to colorization, colorls utilizes font-awesome icons to represent file types and attributes. These icons serve as visual indicators alongside the file names, making it easier to identify the nature of each file or directory at a glance. For example, directories may be represented by a folder icon, executables by a gear icon, or symlinks by an arrow icon.
The colorls gem also provides various customization options to tailor the appearance of the “ls” command. Users can configure the colors, icons, and other display settings according to their preferences. This flexibility allows for a personalized and visually appealing representation of file listings.
colorls is particularly beneficial when navigating and exploring file systems in the terminal. The colorization and icons make it easier to identify directories, executable files, and other file types, enhancing the understanding of the file structure. It can improve productivity and efficiency when working with large or complex directory hierarchies.
It’s worth noting that colorls is written in Ruby and requires Ruby to be installed on the system. Once installed, it integrates seamlessly with the “ls” command, providing an enhanced and visually appealing file listing experience.
colorls Command Examples
1. List files one per line:
# colorls -1
2. List all files, including hidden files:
# colorls --all
3. Long format list (permissions, ownership, size, and modification date) of all files:
# colorls --long --all
4. Only list directories:
# colorls --dirs
Summary
In summary, colorls is a Ruby gem that enhances the “ls” command in the terminal. It adds colorization and font-awesome icons to file and directory listings, making it easier to distinguish between different file types. colorls provides customization options to tailor the appearance of the listings, allowing users to create a visually pleasing and personalized representation. By using colorls, users can improve their efficiency and productivity when navigating file systems in the terminal.