Helix editor file-explorer plugin

A sidebar file explorer panel for the Helix editor, built with Steel (the Scheme scripting layer embedded in Helix).

This project was entirely developed with Claude Code.

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Features

• Sidebar panel that stays open while you edit — focus switches between the explorer and the editor independently
• Directories listed before files, sorted alphabetically
• Automatically reveals and highlights the currently open file when opening or refocusing the explorer
• Navigate with j/k, jump to parent with h, toggle directories with Tab or o
• Fold or expand the entire tree at once with F / E
• Create files or directories with a single prompt — just append / to the name for a directory
• Rename with a pre-filled prompt showing the current name
• Delete with a single-keypress confirmation (y / anything else)
• Refresh the tree with R
• Resizable panel width (+ / -, range 16–60 columns)
• On-demand help overlay (?)

Installation

This is a Steel cog for Helix. Copy the file-explorer/ directory into your Steel cogs path (usually ~/.steel/cogs/), then require it from your Helix Steel init file:

(require "file-explorer/file-explorer.scm")

Bind the toggle command to a key in your init.scm:

(require "file-explorer/file-explorer.scm")
(require "helix/keymaps.scm")
(keymap (global)
        (normal (space (e ":open-file-explorer"))))

Key bindings

Key	Action
j / k / ↑ / ↓	Navigate up and down
h	Go to parent directory
o / Enter	Open file / toggle directory
Tab	Toggle directory expand/fold
F	Fold all directories
E	Expand all directories
a	New file or directory (end name with / for a dir)
r	Rename selected file or directory
d	Delete selected file or directory (press y to confirm)
R	Refresh the tree
+ / -	Widen / narrow the panel
Esc	Unfocus explorer (return to editor, keep panel open)
q	Close the explorer
?	Show key bindings help

Usage notes

• Open/focus/close the explorer with your bound key (e.g. Space+e).
• When the explorer is open but unfocused, the editor works normally and the panel stays visible.
• Refocusing the explorer will reveal and highlight the file currently open in the editor.
• The panel width can be adjusted live with + and - (min 16, max 60 columns).

Requirements

• Helix with Steel scripting enabled (the Steel modules are bundled with Helix itself)