Direds

Direds refer to the plural use of Dired, the Directory Editor, an integrated file-management tool in the GNU Emacs text editor. A Dired buffer presents a text listing of the contents of a directory, typically including file name, permissions, size, owner, and timestamp. In detailed listing mode, the buffer can also reveal additional information, and users can configure sorting and visibility of files. Dired is a major mode in Emacs, pairing navigation with file operations from within the editor.

In a Dired buffer, users move the point to files and mark those to be operated on. Batch actions can be performed on marked files, including copying, renaming, deleting, creating copies, compressing, or changing permissions. Dired can work with files across subdirectories and supports various operations via built-in commands and external programs. It also provides quick access to open a file, run shell commands, or launch editors for selected items.

Direds are valued for their integration with the Emacs workflow: users can switch between editing code, viewing logs, or managing files without leaving the environment. The capability to apply the same set of commands to many files can improve efficiency, especially on large projects or system administration tasks. The functionality is extended by packages such as Dired+ that add features like enhanced listing, better subdirectory handling, and additional sorting and filtering options.

See also: Dired, Emacs, file management.