# Shougo/defx.nvim

:file_folder: The dark powered file explorer implementation for neovim/Vim8

Repository: https://github.com/Shougo/defx.nvim
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/defxnvim
Language: Python
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: nvim, file-manager, vim, denite, neovim
Last push: 2024-03-12T03:51:07+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 32/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3529, "days_push": 904, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1157, forks 82 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:48.235737+00:00)

## What it is
Defx.nvim is a file explorer (filer) plugin for Neovim and Vim 8, implemented in Python 3, replacing the deprecated vimfiler plugin. It offers column-based UI, source features, extended rename, and marking, and is now in maintenance mode with only bug fixes.

## Use cases
- browse and navigate files inside neovim
- file tree explorer for vim
- rename and manage files from within vim
- replace vimfiler with a modern vim file manager
- open and edit files in a sidebar-like filer in neovim

## When to choose
- you use Neovim 0.4+ or Vim 8.2 with Python 3 and want a powerful, customizable file explorer
- you liked vimfiler or denite-style filers and want a maintained replacement
- you want column-based display, marking, and extended rename features

## When to avoid
- you want actively developed software - the author recommends ddu.vim with ddu-ui-filer instead
- you cannot install Python 3.6+ support (pynvim) or the nvim-yarp shim for Vim 8
- you prefer a zero-dependency pure-VimL file explorer like netrw or nvim-tree

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: maintenance
- function: file-system, developer-tools, terminal-ui
- domain: developer-tools, text-editors, files
- platform: windows, editor-plugin, python
- tags: vim-plugin, neovim, file-explorer, file-manager, vim8, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- Shougo/defx.nvim (main) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:48.235737+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:32:00.994010+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/Shougo/defx.nvim (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:48.235737+00:00, sha cb59e7449d2b)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.