exa is a modern replacement for ‘ls’. It does what ‘ls’ does but with more style and info.
I’ve switched from using ls to eza for listing my files. In this post, I’d like to share how I use eza.
Setup
I downloaded a eza source archive from its GitHub repository and extracted it. I’ll be running the commands in this project.
$ curl -LO https://github.com/eza-community/eza/archive/refs/tags/v0.17.3.tar.gz
$ tar -xvf v0.17.3.tar.gz
$ cd eza-0.17.3/
$ ls
benches/ build.rs Cargo.lock Cargo.toml CHANGELOG.md cliff.toml CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md completions/ CONTRIBUTING.md deb.asc deny.toml devtools/ docs/ flake.lock flake.nix INSTALL.md Justfile LICENCE man/ powertest.yaml README.md rust-toolchain.toml rustfmt.toml SECURITY.md snap/ src/ tests/ treefmt.nix
Options I Use
Here are some options that I find super helpful:
Display options:
- -l, —long: display extended details and attributes
- -T, —tree: recurse into directories as a tree
Filtering options:
- -a, —all: show hidden and ‘dot’ files
- -L, —level=(depth): limit the depth of recursion
- —group-directories-first: list directories before other files
- -D, —only-dirs: list only directories
- -f, —only-files: list only files
Long view options:
- -m, —modified: use the modified timestamp field
- —git: list each file’s Git status, if tracked or ignored
- —time-style: how to format timestamps
Note that you can see the full list of options by running eza --help.
Use Cases
Here’s what you see when you run eza with no options:
$ eza
benches build.rs Cargo.lock Cargo.toml CHANGELOG.md cliff.toml CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md completions CONTRIBUTING.md deb.asc deny.toml devtools docs flake.lock flake.nix INSTALL.md Justfile LICENCE man powertest.yaml README.md rust-toolchain.toml rustfmt.toml SECURITY.md snap src tests treefmt.nix
If you want to see only directories (folders):
$ eza --all --only-dirs
.github benches completions devtools docs man snap src tests
and only files
$ eza --all --only-files
.envrc .git-blame-ignore-revs .gitignore build.rs Cargo.lock Cargo.toml CHANGELOG.md cliff.toml CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md CONTRIBUTING.md deb.asc deny.toml flake.lock flake.nix INSTALL.md Justfile LICENCE powertest.yaml README.md rust-toolchain.toml rustfmt.toml SECURITY.md treefmt.nix
For a detailed view:
$ eza --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 benches
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 completions
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 devtools
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 docs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 man
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 snap
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 src
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 tests
.rw-r--r--@ 3.9k jungmin 01-25 06:07 build.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 43k jungmin 01-25 06:07 Cargo.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 3.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 Cargo.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 32k jungmin 01-25 06:07 CHANGELOG.md
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 cliff.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 5.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 CONTRIBUTING.md
.rw-r--r--@ 1.7k jungmin 01-25 06:07 deb.asc
.rw-r--r--@ 12k jungmin 01-25 06:07 deny.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 flake.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 9.3k jungmin 01-25 06:07 flake.nix
.rw-r--r--@ 6.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 INSTALL.md
.rw-r--r--@ 7.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 Justfile
.rw-r--r--@ 1.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 LICENCE
.rw-r--r--@ 2.6k jungmin 01-25 06:07 powertest.yaml
.rw-r--r--@ 7.9k jungmin 01-25 06:07 README.md
.rw-r--r--@ 146 jungmin 01-25 06:07 rust-toolchain.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 34 jungmin 01-25 06:07 rustfmt.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 505 jungmin 01-25 06:07 SECURITY.md
.rw-r--r--@ 586 jungmin 01-25 06:07 treefmt.nix
To see how the --git option adds useful info:
$ git init
$ git add --all
$ eza --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- benches
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- completions
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- devtools
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- docs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- man
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- snap
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- src
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- tests
.rw-r--r--@ 3.9k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- build.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 43k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Cargo.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 3.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Cargo.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 32k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CHANGELOG.md
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- cliff.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 5.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CONTRIBUTING.md
.rw-r--r--@ 1.7k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- deb.asc
.rw-r--r--@ 12k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- deny.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- flake.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 9.3k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- flake.nix
.rw-r--r--@ 6.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- INSTALL.md
.rw-r--r--@ 7.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Justfile
.rw-r--r--@ 1.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- LICENCE
.rw-r--r--@ 2.6k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- powertest.yaml
.rw-r--r--@ 7.9k jungmin 01-28 00:33 N- README.md
.rw-r--r--@ 146 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- rust-toolchain.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 34 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- rustfmt.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 505 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- SECURITY.md
.rw-r--r--@ 586 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- treefmt.nix
$ echo "hello!" >> README.md
$ touch hello
$ eza --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- benches
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- completions
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- devtools
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- docs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- man
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- snap
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- src
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- tests
.rw-r--r--@ 3.9k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- build.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 43k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Cargo.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 3.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Cargo.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 32k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CHANGELOG.md
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- cliff.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 5.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- CONTRIBUTING.md
.rw-r--r--@ 1.7k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- deb.asc
.rw-r--r--@ 12k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- deny.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- flake.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 9.3k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- flake.nix
.rw-r--r--@ 0 jungmin 01-28 00:35 -N hello
.rw-r--r--@ 6.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- INSTALL.md
.rw-r--r--@ 7.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- Justfile
.rw-r--r--@ 1.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- LICENCE
.rw-r--r--@ 2.6k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- powertest.yaml
.rw-r--r--@ 7.9k jungmin 01-28 00:35 NM README.md
.rw-r--r--@ 146 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- rust-toolchain.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 34 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- rustfmt.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 505 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- SECURITY.md
.rw-r--r--@ 586 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- treefmt.nix
Tree view, to see how your files are organized:
$ eza --tree --level=2
.
├── benches
│ └── my_benchmark.rs
├── build.rs
├── Cargo.lock
├── Cargo.toml
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── cliff.toml
├── CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
├── completions
│ ├── bash
│ ├── fish
│ ├── nush
│ └── zsh
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
├── deb.asc
├── deny.toml
├── devtools
│ ├── deb-package.sh
│ ├── dir-generator.sh
│ ├── generate-timestamp-test-dir.sh
│ └── generate-trycmd-test.sh
├── docs
│ ├── images
│ └── tapes
├── flake.lock
├── flake.nix
├── INSTALL.md
├── Justfile
├── LICENCE
├── man
│ ├── eza.1.md
│ ├── eza_colors-explanation.5.md
│ └── eza_colors.5.md
├── powertest.yaml
├── README.md
├── rust-toolchain.toml
├── rustfmt.toml
├── SECURITY.md
├── snap
│ └── snapcraft.yaml
├── src
│ ├── fs
│ ├── info
│ ├── lib.rs
│ ├── logger.rs
│ ├── main.rs
│ ├── options
│ ├── output
│ └── theme
├── tests
│ ├── cli_tests.rs
│ ├── cmd
│ ├── gen
│ ├── itest
│ └── ptests
└── treefmt.nix
and the tree view with more details
$ eza --tree --level=2 --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-28 00:35 NN .
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── benches
.rw-r--r--@ 369 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── my_benchmark.rs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── completions
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── bash
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── fish
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── nush
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── zsh
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── devtools
.rwxr-xr-x@ 5.6k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── deb-package.sh
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── dir-generator.sh
.rw-r--r--@ 616 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── generate-timestamp-test-dir.sh
.rwxr-xr-x@ 861 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── generate-trycmd-test.sh
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── docs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── images
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── tapes
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── man
.rw-r--r--@ 13k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── eza.1.md
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── eza_colors-explanation.5.md
.rw-r--r--@ 7.4k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── eza_colors.5.md
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── snap
.rw-r--r--@ 837 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── snapcraft.yaml
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── src
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── fs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── info
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── options
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── output
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── theme
.rw-r--r--@ 192 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── lib.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 1.7k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── logger.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 17k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── main.rs
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── tests
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── cmd
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── gen
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── itest
drwxr-xr-x@ - jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ ├── ptests
.rw-r--r--@ 691 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- │ └── cli_tests.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 3.9k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── build.rs
.rw-r--r--@ 43k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── Cargo.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 3.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── Cargo.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 32k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── CHANGELOG.md
.rw-r--r--@ 2.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── cliff.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 5.5k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── CONTRIBUTING.md
.rw-r--r--@ 1.7k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── deb.asc
.rw-r--r--@ 12k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── deny.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 8.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── flake.lock
.rw-r--r--@ 9.3k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── flake.nix
.rw-r--r--@ 0 jungmin 01-28 00:35 -N ├── hello
.rw-r--r--@ 6.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── INSTALL.md
.rw-r--r--@ 7.2k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── Justfile
.rw-r--r--@ 1.1k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── LICENCE
.rw-r--r--@ 2.6k jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── powertest.yaml
.rw-r--r--@ 7.9k jungmin 01-28 00:35 NM ├── README.md
.rw-r--r--@ 146 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── rust-toolchain.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 34 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── rustfmt.toml
.rw-r--r--@ 505 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- ├── SECURITY.md
.rw-r--r--@ 586 jungmin 01-25 06:07 N- └── treefmt.nix
Making it Easy
I’ve made some shortcuts (aliases) in my setup to make using eza even faster.
In my config.fish (I use fish shell):
alias ls="eza --all"
alias ld="eza --all --only-dirs"
alias lf="eza --all --only-files"
alias ll="eza --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first"
alias lla="eza --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first --all"
alias tree="eza --tree --level=2"
alias treel="eza --tree --level=2 --long --modified --git --time-style=iso --group-directories-first"
Give these commands a try and see how they can help you!