New Alternatives to Windows 11 Explorer - Files and File Pilot!

hey friends I wanted to take a second to hey friends I wanted to take a second to show you some really interesting things show you some really interesting things show you some really interesting things that are happening in the community that are happening in the community that are happening in the community around the Windows File Explorer okay around the Windows File Explorer okay around the Windows File Explorer okay now it is fair to say that uh there's a now it is fair to say that uh there's a now it is fair to say that uh there's a lot of hate sometimes towards the lot of hate sometimes towards the lot of hate sometimes towards the Windows File Explorer um and I don't Windows File Explorer um and I don't Windows File Explorer um and I don't think this necessarily fair but uh think this necessarily fair but uh think this necessarily fair but uh there's a lot of Legacy stuff going on there's a lot of Legacy stuff going on there's a lot of Legacy stuff going on to make Explorer work uh and certainly to make Explorer work uh and certainly to make Explorer work uh and certainly people have become frustrated sometimes people have become frustrated sometimes people have become frustrated sometimes with some of the performance but this is with some of the performance but this is with some of the performance but this is the the modern file explorer in Windows the the modern file explorer in Windows the the modern file explorer in Windows uh 11 it's tabbed uh it's got dark mode uh 11 it's tabbed uh it's got dark mode uh 11 it's tabbed uh it's got dark mode although you notice that there's a flash although you notice that there's a flash although you notice that there's a flash of light mode which is kind of annoying of light mode which is kind of annoying of light mode which is kind of annoying uh you've got modern menus uh and then uh you've got modern menus uh and then uh you've got modern menus uh and then you know you get into those modern menus you know you get into those modern menus you know you get into those modern menus and you hit something like options and and you hit something like options and and you hit something like options and then you're in like an older looking then you're in like an older looking then you're in like an older looking feel so there's a moment there where feel so there's a moment there where feel so there's a moment there where it's like oh it's modern and no it's not it's like oh it's modern and no it's not it's like oh it's modern and no it's not and as I understand it they're they're and as I understand it they're they're and as I understand it they're they're working through uh those things but it working through uh those things but it working through uh those things but it can be certainly uh a little bit can be certainly uh a little bit can be certainly uh a little bit challenging because it doesn't feel challenging because it doesn't feel challenging because it doesn't feel modern at all times there's new things modern at all times there's new things modern at all times there's new things happening on uh on happening on uh on happening on uh on search to make it better so you know search to make it better so you know search to make it better so you know there it's it's not a bad thing but uh there it's it's not a bad thing but uh there it's it's not a bad thing but uh there are competitors and I think that's there are competitors and I think that's there are competitors and I think that's really interesting so I want to look at really interesting so I want to look at really interesting so I want to look at two competitors that I think are really two competitors that I think are really two competitors that I think are really impressive and worth maybe you taking a impressive and worth maybe you taking a impressive and worth maybe you taking a bit of time and looking at so put myself bit of time and looking at so put myself bit of time and looking at so put myself down here in the corner the first one is down here in the corner the first one is down here in the corner the first one is called files you can get it at files .

called files you can get it at files . called files you can get it at files . community and the second one's called community and the second one's called community and the second one's called file pilot so we're going to look at file pilot so we're going to look at file pilot so we're going to look at files Community First uh this is just a files Community First uh this is just a files Community First uh this is just a a really athetic file manager I've been a really athetic file manager I've been a really athetic file manager I've been following this one for a long time I following this one for a long time I following this one for a long time I believe it's a oneman shop it's really believe it's a oneman shop it's really believe it's a oneman shop it's really really clean it's very very aesthetic it really clean it's very very aesthetic it really clean it's very very aesthetic it is meant to be attractive uh it is open is meant to be attractive uh it is open is meant to be attractive uh it is open source so there's lots of people source so there's lots of people source so there's lots of people contributing uh one main fellow who's contributing uh one main fellow who's contributing uh one main fellow who's doing most of the work but it's a ton of doing most of the work but it's a ton of doing most of the work but it's a ton of people and it's a very active open people and it's a very active open people and it's a very active open source project so this is called files source project so this is called files source project so this is called files so here's files so here's files so here's files um and if I go over to like my GitHub um and if I go over to like my GitHub um and if I go over to like my GitHub folder here you can see that it looks folder here you can see that it looks folder here you can see that it looks like the uh Windows Explorer but there's like the uh Windows Explorer but there's like the uh Windows Explorer but there's a vibe there that maybe is different you a vibe there that maybe is different you a vibe there that maybe is different you can see it's a little bit uh transparent can see it's a little bit uh transparent can see it's a little bit uh transparent so there's an acrylic style uh it so there's an acrylic style uh it so there's an acrylic style uh it acknowledges formally uh acknowledges formally uh acknowledges formally uh WSL it acknowledges and enumerates Cloud WSL it acknowledges and enumerates Cloud WSL it acknowledges and enumerates Cloud drives I really like this feature it's drives I really like this feature it's drives I really like this feature it's got it knows the Dropbox is installed got it knows the Dropbox is installed got it knows the Dropbox is installed it's put in there as a as a cloud drive it's put in there as a as a cloud drive it's put in there as a as a cloud drive so it's separating the drives and the so it's separating the drives and the so it's separating the drives and the cloud drives and I really like that cloud drives and I really like that cloud drives and I really like that another thing that it does that others another thing that it does that others another thing that it does that others don't is it calls out uh pluggable don't is it calls out uh pluggable don't is it calls out uh pluggable drives USB drives removable drives so drives USB drives removable drives so drives USB drives removable drives so then you've got a formal eject button then you've got a formal eject button then you've got a formal eject button which is really really nice another which is really really nice another which is really really nice another thing that makes it nice for uh for thing that makes it nice for uh for thing that makes it nice for uh for developers is here I have a I have a g developers is here I have a I have a g developers is here I have a I have a g view so I can rightclick and say get and view so I can rightclick and say get and view so I can rightclick and say get and then bring in get status and uh like the then bring in get status and uh like the then bring in get status and uh like the latest commit message so so here we've

latest commit message so so here we've latest commit message so so here we've got get as formal uh column within this got get as formal uh column within this got get as formal uh column within this which is super nice another thing that's which is super nice another thing that's which is super nice another thing that's nice is uh quick view so they've got nice is uh quick view so they've got nice is uh quick view so they've got that preview mode like this so I hit that preview mode like this so I hit that preview mode like this so I hit preview and then I've got preview over preview and then I've got preview over preview and then I've got preview over here so you know Explorer has that as here so you know Explorer has that as here so you know Explorer has that as well but this preview mode I think is well but this preview mode I think is well but this preview mode I think is particularly nice quick look mode and particularly nice quick look mode and particularly nice quick look mode and then of course when you right click you then of course when you right click you then of course when you right click you get their options and then this is kind get their options and then this is kind get their options and then this is kind of cool show more options this list here of cool show more options this list here of cool show more options this list here is an enumeration of all of the is an enumeration of all of the is an enumeration of all of the different things that are plugged into different things that are plugged into different things that are plugged into Explorer so files is looking at the Explorer so files is looking at the Explorer so files is looking at the things that are tried to plug into things that are tried to plug into things that are tried to plug into Explorer and it's enumerating them here Explorer and it's enumerating them here Explorer and it's enumerating them here so it's trying to plug them into files so it's trying to plug them into files so it's trying to plug them into files as well which I think is really uh as well which I think is really uh as well which I think is really uh thoughtful and uh and clever so it's got thoughtful and uh and clever so it's got thoughtful and uh and clever so it's got opening tabs it's got Network locations opening tabs it's got Network locations opening tabs it's got Network locations drives quick access all set up the way drives quick access all set up the way drives quick access all set up the way that you kind of would expect um and that you kind of would expect um and that you kind of would expect um and then I'm using a center Mouse button then I'm using a center Mouse button then I'm using a center Mouse button click click click open each of these tabs I can also use open each of these tabs I can also use open each of these tabs I can also use control control control T very very fast and then I can just hit T very very fast and then I can just hit T very very fast and then I can just hit Center click and close those so really Center click and close those so really Center click and close those so really makes moving around really really makes moving around really really makes moving around really really fast and then uh again previews and fast and then uh again previews and fast and then uh again previews and stuff like that and then you can also stuff like that and then you can also stuff like that and then you can also tear off tabs so I just tore one of tear off tabs so I just tore one of tear off tabs so I just tore one of those tabs off onto another monitor and those tabs off onto another monitor and those tabs off onto another monitor and now I've got two of now I've got two of now I've got two of them so now they're next to each other them so now they're next to each other them so now they're next to each other so very nice very nice uh files files.

so very nice very nice uh files files. so very nice very nice uh files files. Community okay okay that's the first one Community okay okay that's the first one Community okay okay that's the first one next one is called file pilot this is next one is called file pilot this is next one is called file pilot this is brand new this just came out like this brand new this just came out like this brand new this just came out like this thing blew up the internet a couple of thing blew up the internet a couple of thing blew up the internet a couple of days ago and I was pretty uh pretty days ago and I was pretty uh pretty days ago and I was pretty uh pretty blown away this one is written entirely blown away this one is written entirely blown away this one is written entirely from scratch um I'm wondering if it's in from scratch um I'm wondering if it's in from scratch um I'm wondering if it's in C it feels like it's in C could be rust C it feels like it's in C could be rust C it feels like it's in C could be rust but it feels very very win32 whoever but it feels very very win32 whoever but it feels very very win32 whoever wrote this really knew what they were wrote this really knew what they were wrote this really knew what they were doing cuz it is wicked fast now I think doing cuz it is wicked fast now I think doing cuz it is wicked fast now I think this one's going to cost because they're this one's going to cost because they're this one's going to cost because they're talking about a a license in the future talking about a a license in the future talking about a a license in the future but currently as of the beta it is but currently as of the beta it is but currently as of the beta it is free uh and you should absolutely check free uh and you should absolutely check free uh and you should absolutely check it out like the thing is check this out it out like the thing is check this out it out like the thing is check this out this is a 2 megabyte this is a 2 megabyte this is a 2 megabyte thing this is the way people used to thing this is the way people used to thing this is the way people used to write software now again you can write software now again you can write software now again you can complain about the Windows Explorer but complain about the Windows Explorer but complain about the Windows Explorer but you have to understand that there's you have to understand that there's you have to understand that there's there's history there there's there's there's history there there's there's there's history there there's there's compatibility there's com objects compatibility there's com objects compatibility there's com objects there's zaml Islands there's stuff there's zaml Islands there's stuff there's zaml Islands there's stuff that's plugged in when you don't have to that's plugged in when you don't have to that's plugged in when you don't have to worry about any compatibility you can worry about any compatibility you can worry about any compatibility you can just go nuts and do something from just go nuts and do something from just go nuts and do something from scratch and that's what file pilot has scratch and that's what file pilot has scratch and that's what file pilot has has done so here's file pilot now when has done so here's file pilot now when has done so here's file pilot now when you first started this is not what it you first started this is not what it you first started this is not what it looks like when you first started I will looks like when you first started I will looks like when you first started I will say it is a beta but if you go to say it is a beta but if you go to say it is a beta but if you go to options when you first start it it will options when you first start it it will options when you first start it it will be shockingly small so I recommend that be shockingly small so I recommend that be shockingly small so I recommend that you go in and you think about the font you go in and you think about the font you go in and you think about the font the font size uh and how it fits into the font size uh and how it fits into the font size uh and how it fits into your your your plan I run my monitor at your your your plan I run my monitor at your your your plan I run my monitor at 150% so for me I needed to bump it up a 150% so for me I needed to bump it up a 150% so for me I needed to bump it up a bit to make make it match my aesthetic

bit to make make it match my aesthetic bit to make make it match my aesthetic so if you compare file pilot with I'm so if you compare file pilot with I'm so if you compare file pilot with I'm going to pull Explorer over here I kind going to pull Explorer over here I kind going to pull Explorer over here I kind of wanted it to be roughly the same of wanted it to be roughly the same of wanted it to be roughly the same size uh and roughly the same style now size uh and roughly the same style now size uh and roughly the same style now they've got this file pilot quick access they've got this file pilot quick access they've got this file pilot quick access button here which is button here which is button here which is controlb I like it like that because it controlb I like it like that because it controlb I like it like that because it looks more like um looks more like uh looks more like um looks more like uh looks more like um looks more like uh file explorer watch this if I hold down file explorer watch this if I hold down file explorer watch this if I hold down contrl T I'm going to hold down contrl T contrl T I'm going to hold down contrl T contrl T I'm going to hold down contrl T and it's going to open new tabs as fast and it's going to open new tabs as fast and it's going to open new tabs as fast as it as it as it can get the keyboard res uh uh the can get the keyboard res uh uh the can get the keyboard res uh uh the keyboard uh keyboard uh keyboard uh repeat it's just wicked fast and then repeat it's just wicked fast and then repeat it's just wicked fast and then control W is is closing them now that's control W is is closing them now that's control W is is closing them now that's a silly Benchmark but it makes me happy a silly Benchmark but it makes me happy a silly Benchmark but it makes me happy uh you've got your places you've got uh you've got your places you've got uh you've got your places you've got your storage it doesn't have a call out your storage it doesn't have a call out your storage it doesn't have a call out for cloud stuff yet but I think that for cloud stuff yet but I think that for cloud stuff yet but I think that would be a nice touch you've got a fast would be a nice touch you've got a fast would be a nice touch you've got a fast filter which I think is really nice so filter which I think is really nice so filter which I think is really nice so if I wanted to look for just Handelman if I wanted to look for just Handelman if I wanted to look for just Handelman stuff that filters down stuff that filters down stuff that filters down here and then there's a global here and then there's a global here and then there's a global filter over here which is kind of like filter over here which is kind of like filter over here which is kind of like everything if you're familiar with the everything if you're familiar with the everything if you're familiar with the everything uh everything uh everything uh application so that's really cool um and application so that's really cool um and application so that's really cool um and then if I then if I then if I hover let me zoom in here if I hover hover let me zoom in here if I hover hover let me zoom in here if I hover over one of these guys look at over one of these guys look at over one of these guys look at that very fast very asynchronous they've that very fast very asynchronous they've that very fast very asynchronous they've done a lot of work work there's a lot of done a lot of work work there's a lot of done a lot of work work there's a lot of asynchrony going on here uh you even get

asynchrony going on here uh you even get asynchrony going on here uh you even get this nice thing where it's looking and this nice thing where it's looking and this nice thing where it's looking and telling you the size of everything from telling you the size of everything from telling you the size of everything from here down which I thought was a really here down which I thought was a really here down which I thought was a really nice touch now if I want to go and look nice touch now if I want to go and look nice touch now if I want to go and look at one of at one of at one of those I'm going to use the again the those I'm going to use the again the those I'm going to use the again the center Mouse click so here I'm going to center Mouse click so here I'm going to center Mouse click so here I'm going to Center Mouse click on this and I can Center Mouse click on this and I can Center Mouse click on this and I can expand the folder or split right look at expand the folder or split right look at expand the folder or split right look at that just luscious do that again that that just luscious do that again that that just luscious do that again that was just so yummy okay that's not the was just so yummy okay that's not the was just so yummy okay that's not the same as a right click see right click same as a right click see right click same as a right click see right click gives you this we'll go into that in a gives you this we'll go into that in a gives you this we'll go into that in a minute I'm going to Center click split minute I'm going to Center click split minute I'm going to Center click split right watch that opens up there so right watch that opens up there so right watch that opens up there so here's one page here's another page here's one page here's another page here's one page here's another page super nice but I can also pick one of super nice but I can also pick one of super nice but I can also pick one of these these these files and then hit files and then hit files and then hit space and then you get that nice preview space and then you get that nice preview space and then you get that nice preview thing again almost every uh file manager thing again almost every uh file manager thing again almost every uh file manager for Windows has some quick look feature for Windows has some quick look feature for Windows has some quick look feature like that um but this I thought was a like that um but this I thought was a like that um but this I thought was a particularly nice a nice touch uh particularly nice a nice touch uh particularly nice a nice touch uh there's no coloring that I could see but there's no coloring that I could see but there's no coloring that I could see but there is white space which I thought was there is white space which I thought was there is white space which I thought was a cool a cool touch a cool a cool touch a cool a cool touch there wicked wicked fast this there wicked wicked fast this there wicked wicked fast this thing this is also kind of cool when you thing this is also kind of cool when you thing this is also kind of cool when you open up a new tab and then you start open up a new tab and then you start open up a new tab and then you start dragging you get an dragging you get an dragging you get an internal where do you want internal where do you want internal where do you want this splitter kind of like Visual this splitter kind of like Visual this splitter kind of like Visual Studio that cool Studio that cool Studio that cool the other thing that I thought was nice the other thing that I thought was nice the other thing that I thought was nice is if you right click on them uh you're

is if you right click on them uh you're is if you right click on them uh you're getting all of the stuff that you would getting all of the stuff that you would getting all of the stuff that you would expect right but we saw that we can also expect right but we saw that we can also expect right but we saw that we can also get open get open get open console so if I hit open console it console so if I hit open console it console so if I hit open console it drops me directly into that place excuse place excuse me that's how you know everything's live me that's how you know everything's live me that's how you know everything's live live live live live this is nice too puts a real face live this is nice too puts a real face live this is nice too puts a real face on the for the developer this stuff is on the for the developer this stuff is on the for the developer this stuff is out front hidden files system files out front hidden files system files out front hidden files system files toggling file extensions it's not buried toggling file extensions it's not buried toggling file extensions it's not buried inside of options really really nice inside of options really really nice inside of options really really nice stuff very happy with both of these stuff very happy with both of these stuff very happy with both of these tools both file pilot and um files tools both file pilot and um files tools both file pilot and um files Community would encourage you to check Community would encourage you to check Community would encourage you to check them both out and then if you've made it them both out and then if you've made it them both out and then if you've made it this far into our episode for for those this far into our episode for for those this far into our episode for for those of you who have I would also encourage of you who have I would also encourage of you who have I would also encourage you to check out midnight Commander you to check out midnight Commander you to check out midnight Commander midnight Commander by our wonderful midnight Commander by our wonderful midnight Commander by our wonderful friend Miguel deaza uh evocative of friend Miguel deaza uh evocative of friend Miguel deaza uh evocative of Norton Norton Norton Commander gives you the same Vibes so Commander gives you the same Vibes so Commander gives you the same Vibes so definitely you've got options I think is definitely you've got options I think is definitely you've got options I think is the point here so a lot of really the point here so a lot of really the point here so a lot of really interesting stuff happening I would say interesting stuff happening I would say interesting stuff happening I would say that between files and that between files and that between files and uh and file pilot there has never been uh and file pilot there has never been uh and file pilot there has never been such an exciting kind of like such an exciting kind of like such an exciting kind of like effectively a vote of no confidence effectively a vote of no confidence effectively a vote of no confidence against Explorer but it's competition against Explorer but it's competition against Explorer but it's competition and it's I think it's good competition and it's I think it's good competition and it's I think it's good competition because they're both very windowsyoutube because they're both very windowsyoutube because they're both very windowsyoutube are unapologetically windows e they are unapologetically windows e they are unapologetically windows e they appreciate they light up on Windows uh appreciate they light up on Windows uh appreciate they light up on Windows uh but they give uh they give the Explorer

but they give uh they give the Explorer but they give uh they give the Explorer folks something to uh to uh aspire to folks something to uh to uh aspire to folks something to uh to uh aspire to both of these are really nice examples both of these are really nice examples both of these are really nice examples of solid looking uh Windows apps and I of solid looking uh Windows apps and I of solid looking uh Windows apps and I encourage you to check them both out encourage you to check them both out encourage you to check them both out again we've got file again we've got file again we've got file pilot and files. Community you can check pilot and files. Community you can check pilot and files. Community you can check them both out this one's in beta will them both out this one's in beta will them both out this one's in beta will eventually cost money this one is open eventually cost money this one is open eventually cost money this one is open source and you can find it on the source and you can find it on the source and you can find it on the Windows Windows Windows store let me know if there's a files store let me know if there's a files store let me know if there's a files application that you prefer that you application that you prefer that you application that you prefer that you think is even cooler and maybe I'll do a think is even cooler and maybe I'll do a think is even cooler and maybe I'll do a review of it but I just wanted to share review of it but I just wanted to share review of it but I just wanted to share both of these cuz they're just super both of these cuz they're just super both of these cuz they're just super super cool like And subscribe