Kitty and yazi as alternative file manager

Basic Help & Support
1

The new -and very powerful- kitty terminal fits like a glove with yazi. In order to create a custom shortcut, open your ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml and add (copy/paste) this sequence:

<keybind key="W-S-f">
   <action name="Execute">
      <command>kitty --title "Yazi File Manager" -e yazi</command>
   </action>
</keybind>

Now, every time you press Super + Shift + F this magnificent duo will launch and simply press q to exit. Image previews are supported by kitty but not in terminator. Feel free to change the key combinations.

Enjoy. :grin:

2

Yazi and Kitty are indeed good companions. :wink:

For the interest, this is my setup.

Kinda F12 mabox-terminal (guake) behaviour.

Jumpapp for easy toggle and Picom for some effecs.

<keybind key="F8">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>jumpapp -m kitty --title "Yazi File Manager" -e yazi</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

@include for picom to create a similar effect like F12.

match = "class_g = 'kitty'";
opacity = 0.95;
dim = 0.0;
corner-radius = 12;
blur-background = true;
animations = (
   {
      triggers = ["close", "hide"];
      preset = "fly-out";
      opacity = 1.0;
      direction = "up";
      duration = 0.5;
      delay = 0.2;
   },
{
      triggers = ["open", "show"];
      preset = "fly-in";
      opacity = 1.0;
      direction = "up";
      duration = 0.5;
      delay = 0.2;
   },
  )

Add something like this in kitty.conf so it remembers the window position.

# Window position
window_padding_width 8
hide_window_decorations yes
remember_window_size yes
initial_window_width 1200
initial_window_height 750

Change class_g to name if you want only this kitty(yazi) window with the picom effect.

from

match = "class_g = 'kitty'";

to

match = "name = 'Yazi File Manager'";

:penguin:

3

I was wrong with the kitty.conf and position of the terminal.

To get the terminal on the right place.

Add something like …

    </application>
    <application class="kitty">
        <decor>no</decor>
      <position force="yes">
        <x>256</x>     
        <y>left</y>     
        <monitor>1</monitor>
      </position>
    </application>

… to section </application> in rc.xml

I found out the way of using.

like

        <x>256</x>     
        <y>left</y>

or

        <x>top</x>     
        <y>340</y>

Not like

        <x>90</x>     
        <y>340</y>

:penguin:

4

Thank you.

I also created a custom launcher for my Favorites menu:

Yazi File Manager,kitty --title "Yazi File Manager" -e yazi,yazi

Here:

image

Yazi launches in Terminator by default right now, I don’t know if good @napcok will include an official launcher down the road.

5

Do you know…

Mabox_20260918-18-08-01
Mabox_20260918-18-08-01624×1181 139 KB

6 
C-W-left

Mabox desktop settings (at the top)

7

Yes, I’m aware. :grin:

I mean for regular/ocasional use besides F12 (Quake). In fact, I like the Terminator behavior best for Quake. Added Kitty’s own launcher in rc.xml with:

<keybind key="W-S-t">
  <action name="Execute">
    <command>kitty</command>
  </action>
</keybind>