Marta: A Fast and Customizable File Manager for macOS

Here is a file manager for macOS that will make you forget the Finder, and its name is Marta.

It is a 100% native application for Mac, entirely developed in Swift, which provides an authentically macOS experience with excellent performance, far better than the Finder. Marta is also fully customizable, especially in terms of keyboard controls. There are also some rather nice themes, and if you feel like it, you can even design your own to perfection.

Regarding archives like zip files and such, this next-generation Finder handles them as if they were simple folders, allowing you to open and modify files within nested archives without even extracting them.

Marta also features a plugin API in Lua, which allows you to extend its functionalities just like you would with OBS for those who script it a bit. This way, you can create your own commands and share them with the community if you feel like it.

With the action panel, accessible via ⌘⇧P (CMD SHIFT P), you have access to all commands at a glance, and thanks to its ultra-efficient search engine, you can find your files in a flash, whether with a simple character string or a regular expression.

Here are some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts, most of which are modeled after what Apple’s Finder offers:

• Arrows to navigate through your folders
• Enter to open a file
• Backspace to go up one level
• Spacebar to preview the file without opening it
• ⌘ Enter to open the file with the application of your choice, without touching the mouse

And if you need to open multiple windows and tabs or display hidden files, that’s also possible with a keyboard shortcut. You will hardly touch the mouse with this tool.

Marta even offers you a preview of files by simply hovering over the name, and you can choose the type of preview with ⇧ Space. There’s even a built-in terminal directly in the application that you can call up with the ⌘O command. It’s super convenient!

How to use Marta

Installation:

• Download Marta from the official website (https://marta.sh/download/)[3]
• Alternatively, use Homebrew: brew install --cask marta
• Marta requires macOS 10.12 or later[3]

Basic Interface:

• Marta uses a dual-pane layout, with two directory panes side-by-side[2]
• One pane is active (source), the other is inactive (usually the target)
• Switch between panes using the Tab key[2]

Navigation:

• Use arrow keys to move the cursor in the active pane
• Press Enter to open a file or folder
• Press Backspace to go up one level in the directory tree[4]

File Operations:

• Copy files from the active pane to the inactive pane
• Move files between panes
• Create symbolic links, aliases, or hard links using the Link plugin[6]

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• Marta is keyboard-centric, with most operations accessible via shortcuts
• Press Space to preview a file (like in Finder)
• Use Command-Enter to choose which application to open a file with[4]

Actions Panel:

• Open with Command-Shift-P
• Type to search for commands and press Enter to execute them
• Helps learn keyboard shortcuts over time[4]

Built-in Terminal:

• Open with Command-O
• Terminal is synchronized with the current folder in the active pane[4]

Customization:

• Themes: Change themes using the “Switch Theme” action or by editing the configuration file[5]
• Custom themes can be added to ~/Library/Application Support/org.yanex.marta/Themes[5]
• Plugins: Extend functionality with Lua plugins[1]
• Key Bindings: Customize all hotkeys to your preference[1]

Additional Features:

• Quick Search: Navigate files instantly using substrings or regular expressions
• Look Up: Use system-wide file search
• Multiple windows and tabs
• Show hidden files with a single hotkey
• Task Queue for managing file operations
• Disk Usage analysis[1]

Privacy:

Marta doesn’t collect or sell user data[1]

Marta offers a powerful alternative to Finder, especially for users who prefer keyboard-driven navigation and customization. Its dual-pane layout, extensive keyboard support, and plugin system make it a versatile tool for file management on macOS.

Discover Marta for yourself here. You should gain a bit of productivity 🙂

Citations:
[1] https://marta.sh
[2] https://marta.sh/docs/
[3] https://marta.sh/download/
[4] https://lifehacker.com/tech/marta-macos-finder-alternative
[5] https://marta.sh/docs/configuration/themes/
[6] https://github.com/eugenesvk/Marta.ext

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