TMSU is a command-line tool that lets you tag files and directories, creating a virtual filesystem based on those tags. Instead of relying on a file's physical location, you can organize and access files through a flexible tag-based system. TMSU supports various commands for tagging, untagging, listing files by tag, and navigating the virtual filesystem. It offers features like autocompletion, regular expression matching for tags, and integration with find. This allows for powerful and dynamic file management based on user-defined criteria, bypassing the limitations of traditional directory structures.
TMSU (Tag Management System for Unix) is a command-line utility designed to provide a flexible and powerful way to organize files and directories across diverse locations on a Unix-like system, without physically moving them. It accomplishes this by implementing a virtual, tag-based filesystem. Users can apply descriptive tags to files and directories, essentially creating virtual collections. These tags can be arbitrary and don't adhere to a predefined schema, offering great flexibility.
The core functionality revolves around tagging and searching. Users can tag files individually or in bulk using wildcards and regular expressions, enabling sophisticated selection. Similarly, searching for files is achieved by querying based on tags, including logical operations (AND, OR, NOT) to create complex search criteria. This allows for the creation of dynamic, virtual folders based on any criteria the user defines, bypassing the limitations of the traditional, hierarchical filesystem structure.
TMSU interacts with the underlying filesystem by storing metadata about the tags and their associated files in a SQLite database. This database tracks the relationship between tags and files, allowing for efficient searching and filtering. Crucially, no modifications are made to the files themselves; the tagging system exists as a separate layer of organization. This maintains compatibility with existing applications and workflows while adding the benefits of tag-based management.
The project website highlights several key features: The ability to use regular expressions for powerful tag manipulation; recursive tagging for applying tags to entire directory trees; support for excluding specific files or directories from tagging operations; and autocompletion to streamline tag entry. Furthermore, the project is open-source and under active development, encouraging community contributions and ensuring continued improvement. The command-line interface offers a range of commands for managing tags, viewing tagged files, and interacting with the virtual filesystem. This approach caters to users comfortable with terminal environments and scripting, allowing for integration into existing workflows and automation tasks.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42805431
Hacker News users generally praised TMSU for its speed, simplicity, and effectiveness, especially compared to more complex solutions. One commenter highlighted its efficiency for managing a large photo collection, appreciating the ability to tag files based on date and other criteria. Others found its clear documentation and intuitive use of find commands beneficial. Some expressed interest in similar terminal-based tagging solutions, mentioning TagSpaces as a cross-platform alternative and bemoaning the lack of a modern GUI for TMSU. A few users questioned the longevity of the project, given the last commit being two years prior, while others pointed out the stability of the software and the infrequency of needed updates for such a tool.
The Hacker News post about TMSU, a command-line tool for tagging and viewing a virtual tagged filesystem, has a moderate number of comments discussing its merits and comparing it to similar tools.
Several commenters appreciate TMSU's speed and simplicity, especially for managing large numbers of files. One user highlights its effectiveness in tagging thousands of PDFs and notes its superior performance compared to other tagging solutions they've tried. Another user echoes this sentiment, praising its speed and simplicity, while also pointing out that it's been reliably maintained for years.
A key point of discussion revolves around the trade-offs between using a dedicated tagging tool like TMSU versus leveraging existing filesystem features. Some users argue that relying on extended file attributes or similar built-in functionalities offers a more integrated and portable solution. A counter-argument presented is that these methods can be cumbersome and lack the advanced features and flexibility of a dedicated tagging tool like TMSU. One commenter specifically mentions the difficulty of searching for files based on multiple tags using only extended attributes.
The discussion also touches upon alternative tagging tools and workflows. Commenters mention tools like TagSpaces, TagFS, and the use of symbolic links combined with find commands. These alternatives are presented as potentially simpler options, but the thread lacks detailed comparisons of their features and performance against TMSU. One user, however, explains their specific use case involving symbolic links and how it fulfills their tagging needs effectively.
Some commenters express interest in specific features, such as integration with external services or the ability to add tags based on file content. While TMSU doesn't appear to offer these functionalities directly, the discussion suggests potential workarounds or future development possibilities.
Overall, the comments on the Hacker News post paint a picture of TMSU as a fast and efficient command-line tagging tool, well-suited for managing large collections of files. While alternatives exist, TMSU's speed and feature set seem to resonate with several users. The discussion also highlights the ongoing debate about the best approach to file tagging, with opinions varying based on individual needs and priorities.