Nexus

Nexus is a terminal dashboard that lets you launch your favorite CLI and TUI tools (like Neovim, Git UIs, or custom scripts) from a single interactive menu. No memorizing commands or directories required.

Think of Nexus as a launcher for terminal tools, similar to how Raycast or Alfred launch GUI apps.

Source Code: https://github.com/jdluu/Nexus | Changelog: https://github.com/jdluu/Nexus/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md

Caption: Main dashboard showing projects and tools.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.12 or newer.
• The uv package manager.
• Recommended: A modern terminal emulator with TrueColor support (e.g., Windows Terminal, ghostty, Kitty, or WezTerm).
• Recommended: A Nerd Font for optimal icon rendering.

Installation

It is recommended to use uv, a fast Python package and tool manager (similar to pipx), for a clean, isolated global installation.

# Install globally so you can run 'nexus' from anywhere
uv tool install nexus-tui

Alternative (Standard pip): You can also install via pip, though it is recommended uv or pipx to keep dependencies isolated.

pip install nexus-tui

Upgrade

To update to the latest version:

uv tool upgrade nexus-tui

Features

• Smart Search: Instantly find tools with fuzzy matching and a built-in Command Palette (Ctrl+P).
• Dynamic Flags: Pass custom arguments (e.g., --verbose, --dry-run) to your tools at launch time.
• Advanced Project Browser: Browse your entire filesystem or scan defined roots to find project context. Supports selecting both folders and individual files.
• Responsive Design System: Fully themeable interface with support for Tokyo Night (Dark, Storm, Light) and automatic system preference detection.
• Secure Secrets: Seamless integration with Infisical for environment variable management.
• Persistence: Nexus remembers your recently accessed projects for quick re-launching.

Configuration

Nexus utilizes a tools.toml file for configuration.

Minimal Starter Config

# Define where your code projects live
project_root = "~/Projects"

# Add a tool with placeholder support
[[tool]]
label = "Edit"
category = "DEV"
description = "Open project in Neovim"
command = "nvim {project}"
requires_project = true
supports_flags = true

Command Placeholders

You can use the following placeholders in your command strings:

• {project}: Replaced by the absolute path of the selected project or file.
• {flags}: Replaced by any custom arguments you enter at launch.

Controls

• Arrow Keys: Navigate through lists.
• Enter: Confirm selection or launch tool.
• Ctrl+P: Open the global Command Palette.
• Ctrl+B: Open the Advanced Project Browser (when in project picker).
• Ctrl+T: Open the Theme Picker.
• TypeAnywhere: Instantly filter tools by typing.
• Esc: Go back or return to the previous view.
• Ctrl+Q: Exit the application (with confirmation).
• F1: Show Help / Controls.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

Does Nexus discover tools automatically?

No. You must define your tools in tools.toml so you have full control over what appears in your dashboard.

Is this a replacement for my shell?

No. Nexus is a dashboard. When you launch a tool, it temporarily suspends itself to let the tool take over your terminal. When the tool exits, Nexus returns.

My icons look broken (rectangles or question marks).

Ensure you are using a Nerd Font and that your terminal emulator is configured to use it.

Development (For Contributors)

To configure the development environment:

1. Synchronize dependencies:

   uv sync

2. Run the application locally:

   uv run nexus

3. Execute the comprehensive test suite:

   uv run pytest --cov=nexus

4. Perform static analysis and type checking:

   uv run ruff check .
   uv run mypy .