As I've been exploring Python more deeply, I wanted a project that would tie together various aspects of the language and give me hands-on experience. That's where dd-commander comes in - a simple recreation of the classic Norton Commander file manager.
Why Norton Commander?
Norton Commander's dual-pane interface was a staple of DOS-era computing. Recreating it in Python seemed like a good way to touch on several key programming concepts:
- File system operations
- User interface design (even if it's text-based)
- Event handling and key bindings
- Object-oriented programming
The Tech Stack
The project relies on a few key components:
prompt_toolkit: For creating the text-based user interfaceos: To interact with the file system- Python's built-in classes and functions
The main logic lives in dd-commander.py, where I've set up classes like PaneItem and Pane to manage the file display and navigation.
Learning Points
Working on dd-commander has been a practical way to reinforce Python concepts:
- OOP in Python: Creating and working with classes like
PaneItemandPane - File operations: Using the
osmodule to list directories and manage files - Event handling: Setting up key bindings for navigation and actions
- UI design in text: Using
prompt_toolkitto create a responsive console interface
Open Source and Accessible
The project is open source and available on GitHub: https://github.com/dd-goran/commander-dd
It's a work in progress, and I'm using it as a playground to experiment with different Python features. If you're also learning Python, feel free to check it out. You might find it useful as a learning resource, or you might even want to contribute or use it as a starting point for your own project.
Moving Forward
As I continue to learn, I'll likely add more features to dd-commander. It's serving as a good practical application for new concepts I encounter in Python.
For anyone else on a Python learning journey, I'd recommend finding a project like this - something that interests you and covers a range of programming concepts. It's been a helpful way to put theory into practice.
If you're curious about dd-commander or want to see how a beginner-to-intermediate project in Python might look, the GitHub repo is open and waiting. Happy coding!