File Explorer – Linux Capstone Project (C++)

Overview

The File Explorer Capstone Project is a Linux-based, terminal-driven file management system developed using C++17.
It replicates the functionality of a Linux shell — allowing users to navigate, create, move, copy, and analyze files and directories through command-line commands.

Built and tested on Ubuntu (via WSL2) using VS Code, this project demonstrates expertise in Linux System Programming, C++ STL, and filesystem operations.

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Objective

To design and implement a simple command-line File Explorer that performs fundamental file and directory operations in Linux — while reinforcing system-level programming concepts in C++.

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Technologies Used

Tool / Technology	Purpose
C++17 STL	Core programming language
Filesystem Library	File and directory handling
WSL2 (Ubuntu)	Linux runtime environment
VS Code	Code editor & build environment
Makefile	Build automation
Git & GitHub	Version control and documentation

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Day-wise Progress

Day 1 – Basic Setup & Commands

Implemented Commands:

• pwd → Print working directory
• ls → List files/folders
• exit → Exit the program

Highlights:

• Project setup and environment configuration
• Tested basic shell commands in C++
• Implemented Makefile for compilation

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Day 2 – Directory Navigation & File Creation

Implemented Commands:

• cd <dir> → Change directory
• mkdir <dir> → Create directory
• touch <file> → Create a new file

Highlights:

• Introduced std::filesystem::current_path()
• Added exception handling for invalid directories
• Practiced argument parsing and validation

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Day 3 – File Manipulation & Information Retrieval

Implemented Commands:

• cp <src> <dest> → Copy file
• mv <src> <dest> → Move or rename file
• rm <file> → Remove file
• info <file> → Display file information

Highlights:

• Used std::filesystem::copy, rename, remove
• Implemented chrono for last modified time
• Improved error handling and input validation

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Day 4 – Search, Tree & Help

Implemented Commands:

• find <name> → Search recursively for file/folder
• tree → Display directory structure
• help → Show command guide

Highlights:

• Recursive directory traversal
• Implemented visual tree command output
• Added in-terminal help menu

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Day 5 – History, Clear & Exit Confirmation

Implemented Commands:

• history → Show executed commands
• clear → Clear terminal screen
• exit → With user confirmation

Highlights:

• Implemented command history vector
• Enhanced UI/UX with clear screen feature
• Final testing and code optimization

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Project Screenshots

Day	Description	Screenshot
Day 1	Basic setup – pwd, ls, exit
Day 2	Navigation – cd, mkdir, touch
Day 3	File management – cp, mv, rm, info
Day 4	Search & tree view – find, tree, help
Day 5	Final version – history, clear, exit

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Project Structure

file-explorer-capstone/
├── Day1/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp
├── Day2/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp
├── Day3/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp
├── Day4/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp
├── Day5/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp
├── src/
│   └── file_explorer.cpp     # Final version (Day 5)
├── screenshots/
│   ├── day1.png
│   ├── day2.png
│   ├── day3.png
│   ├── day4.png
│   └── day5.png
├── Makefile
├── README.md
└── .gitignore

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Build & Run Instructions

Build

make

Run

./file_explorer

Clean

make clean

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Example Session

pwd
ls
mkdir test
cd test
touch file.txt
info file.txt
cp file.txt backup.txt
mv backup.txt ../
find file.txt
tree
history
exit

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Author

Biseswar Mohapatra
🎓 Linux System Programming | C++ Developer | Automation Enthusiast
📧 biseswarmohapatra214@gmail.com
🌐 GitHub Profile

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Conclusion

This project demonstrates a practical understanding of:

• Linux filesystem operations
• Command-line interface development
• Modern C++17 features and STL
• Structured software design and documentation