Boost Your Terminal Navigation with the y z Workflow

Navigating directories efficiently in the terminal is essential for productivity. While cd has been the standard for decades, there are smarter and faster alternatives. Meet the y → z workflow—a powerful way to jump between directories and manage files effortlessly. What is y → z The letters y and z don’t have an inherent meaning, but their alphabetical order mirrors c and d—making them easy to remember as a cd alternative. This workflow leverages: zoxide – A smarter cd replacement that remembers frequently visited directories. yazi – A blazing-fast terminal file manager with zoxide integration. fzf – A fuzzy finder that enhances interactive navigation. The Power of z (zoxide) zoxide enhances terminal navigation by remembering frequently visited directories. The z command allows you to quickly jump to a known directory based on name matching. For even more flexibility, zi integrates zoxide with fzf, enabling an interactive fuzzy search through your directory history, letting you select a destination effortlessly. Basic Commands z project # Jump to a frequently visited "project" directory zi # Use fzf to interactively search recent directories The Power of y (yazi) yazi is a powerful terminal-based file manager designed for fast and efficient navigation. One of its standout features is its seamless integration with zoxide. While using yazi, you can press z to instantly jump to any frequently visited directory tracked by zoxide. This allows you to combine fuzzy directory switching with visual file management, creating a smooth and efficient workflow for handling files and navigating your system. Basic Commands y # Open yazi Once inside yazi, press z to instantly jump to a directory tracked by zoxide. However, when a full TUI file explorer isn't necessary, you might prefer using zi directly. Instead of opening yazi, the zi command allows you to instantly select and jump to a directory using fuzzy search—making it the fastest option for quick directory switching. Conclusion If you're looking for a faster way to move around your file system, the y → z workflow is a game-changer.

Mar 19, 2025 - 01:16

Boost Your Terminal Navigation with the y z Workflow

Navigating directories efficiently in the terminal is essential for
productivity. While cd has been the standard for decades, there are smarter
and faster alternatives.

Meet the y → z workflow—a powerful way to jump between directories and
manage files effortlessly.

What is `y` → `z`

The letters y and z don’t have an inherent meaning, but their alphabetical
order mirrors c and d—making them easy to remember as a cd alternative.

This workflow leverages:

zoxide – A smarter cd replacement that remembers frequently visited directories.
yazi – A blazing-fast terminal file manager with zoxide integration.
fzf – A fuzzy finder that enhances interactive navigation.

The Power of `z` (zoxide)

zoxide enhances terminal navigation by remembering frequently visited
directories. The z command allows you to quickly jump to a known directory
based on name matching. For even more flexibility, zi integrates zoxide
with fzf, enabling an interactive fuzzy search through your directory
history, letting you select a destination effortlessly.

Basic Commands

z project    # Jump to a frequently visited "project" directory 
zi           # Use fzf to interactively search recent directories

The Power of `y` (yazi)

yazi is a powerful
terminal-based file manager designed for fast and efficient navigation. One of
its standout features is its seamless integration with zoxide. While using
yazi, you can press z to instantly jump to any frequently visited directory
tracked by zoxide. This allows you to combine fuzzy directory switching with
visual file management, creating a smooth and efficient workflow for handling
files and navigating your system.

Basic Commands

y            # Open yazi

Once inside yazi, press z to instantly jump to a directory tracked by
zoxide.

However, when a full TUI file explorer isn't necessary, you might prefer using
zi directly. Instead of opening yazi, the zi command allows you to
instantly select and jump to a directory using fuzzy search—making it the
fastest option for quick directory switching.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a faster way to move around your file system, the y →
z workflow is a game-changer.