Dux Labs

Usage

Usage

Dux Files is a daemon with windows attached. The commands below talk to the running instance when there is one and run the same code in-process otherwise. dfiles ipc needs the running daemon. --json prints machine-readable output where a command supports it.

Windows

dfiles                        # show the last used window, launching dfiles if needed
dfiles show                   # same as above
dfiles toggle                 # toggle window visibility
dfiles open ~/Downloads       # open a folder in a new tab of the last used window
dfiles open a.txt b/          # one tab each; a file opens its folder with the file selected
dfiles open -n ~/Music        # open in a new window
dfiles open                   # no argument always opens a new window
dfiles select ~/x.pdf ~/y.png # open the folders holding the paths with them selected
dfiles properties ~/x.pdf     # show the properties dialog

dfiles open also takes URIs. An archive given to it, or double clicked in a window, is extracted into a folder beside it unless Settings → General → Extract archives on open is off.

Location	Opens
/path, relative/path, file:///path	that path
trash:///	the trash view
computer:///	/
network:///	the Connect to Server dialog
admin:///path	the path; denied operations offer Retry as administrator
sftp:// ssh:// smb:// ftp:// ftps:// dav:// davs:// nfs:// afp://	mounted through gvfs, then opened in a new tab at the path inside the share

Daemon

dfiles run                    # run in the foreground (logs to the terminal)
dfiles run -d                 # run as a background daemon
dfiles run -d --hidden        # run without opening a window
dfiles daemon                 # IPC only, no UI
dfiles restart                # restart the running instance
dfiles kill                   # stop everything

dfiles run also accepts --session (for a systemd-managed unit), --log-level <debug|info|warn|error|fatal> and --log-file <path>. Use --config <dir> on any command to point at a UI config directory instead of the embedded one (env: DFILES_SHELL_DIR).

Trash

dfiles trash put <path...>        # move files or directories into the trash
dfiles trash list                 # list trashed items across every trash directory
dfiles trash count                # print the number of trashed items
dfiles trash restore <name...>    # restore items to where they were deleted from
dfiles trash empty                # delete every trashed item permanently

restore takes --trash-dir <dir> to pick a specific trash and --conflict keep-both|skip|replace for when the original path is taken (default keep-both). An item that fails is skipped, reported, and makes the command exit 1.

Mime Types and Default Applications

dfiles mime query <path|mime-type...>     # mime type, default app and every handler
dfiles mime default <path|mime-type>      # print the default application's desktop id
dfiles mime set <mime-type> <desktop-id>  # set the default application

Devices

dfiles devices list               # drives and volumes udisks2 knows about
dfiles devices mount <device>     # by /dev path, label, uuid or id
dfiles devices unmount <device>
dfiles devices eject <device>     # unmount and eject removable media

Search

dfiles search ~/Projects "invoice 2026"
dfiles search ~ --type images --fuzzy photo
dfiles search / --scope everywhere --limit 50 "*.iso"

Terms must all match the name or path. * and ? make a term a glob.

Flag	What it does
--scope folder|home|everywhere	Where to look. everywhere is home plus mounted local drives (default folder)
--type <kind>	Only documents, images, video, audio, archives or folders (repeatable)
--fuzzy	Also accept terms whose letters appear in order
--contents	Match indexed file contents (needs a running Dux Search)
--hidden	Descend into and report hidden entries
--include-ignored	Walk heavy folders, gitignored entries and your excluded folders too
--cross-device	Follow into other filesystems
--direct	Walk the disk even when the Dux Search index could answer
--limit <n>	Stop after this many results (at most and by default 10000)

Results print as they are found.

Portal File Chooser

dfiles portal status      # show whether dfiles serves the portal file chooser
dfiles portal install     # make dfiles the portal file chooser for this user
dfiles portal uninstall   # restore the previous portal file chooser

See Open and save dialogs for what this changes.

IPC

dfiles ipc list                           # every IPC method and its params
dfiles ipc ui.toggle
dfiles ipc files.list path=/home/me sort=mtime desc=true

See IPC for the method reference.

JSON Output

dfiles trash list --json
dfiles devices list --json
dfiles version --json

Next Steps

• Desktop Integration - FileManager1, the portal, and URIs
• Keyboard - Every shortcut