A highly customizable, colorized file listing tool that extends GNU ls with configurable views and syntax highlighting.
ls++ is a Perl-based command-line utility that extends the standard GNU ls command with advanced colorization, customizable output views, and enhanced file metadata display. It solves the problem of inflexible ls output by allowing users to configure exactly how file information is presented, with syntax highlighting and relative timestamps for better readability.
System administrators, developers, and power users who frequently work in the terminal and want more control and visual clarity when listing directory contents. Particularly useful for those managing complex directory structures or preferring customized workflow tools.
Developers choose ls++ over standard ls because it offers unprecedented customization of output formatting while maintaining full compatibility with ls flags. Its colorization and relative timestamp features provide immediate visual context that standard ls lacks, making file management more efficient.
ls on steroids
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Offers multiple predefined output formats like --tpsf for time-permissions-size-file and --potsf for permissions-owners-time-size-file, allowing users to tailor metadata display to their needs.
Uses Term::ExtendedColor for syntax highlighting of file types and permissions, enhancing visual clarity and quick identification as shown in the screenshot and documentation.
Unknown arguments are passed through to the underlying ls command, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows and flags, as stated in the USAGE section.
Supports a configuration file (~/.ls++.conf) for personalized highlighting and file filtering, enabling long-term customization without recompilation.
Requires manual steps including Perl module installation via CPAN and compilation, which can be error-prone compared to simple package managers, as detailed in the INSTALLATION section.
Being Perl-based, it adds runtime dependencies and may have performance implications or compatibility issues on systems without Perl readily available.
Package support is listed only for Arch Linux and SUSE, leaving other distributions to rely on manual installation from source or CPAN, which can be a barrier to adoption.