gvfs-tree

gvfs-tree [LOCATION]

--help
    Display help information and exit

--version
    Output version information and exit

LOCATION
    GVFS URI or path to start tree from (defaults to current directory)

The gvfs-tree command is a utility from the GNOME Virtual File System (GVFS) package that displays a hierarchical tree view of directories and files starting from a specified LOCATION, which can be a GVFS URI or local path. GVFS extends traditional file access to support remote filesystems like FTP, SMB, WebDAV, and more, making gvfs-tree ideal for browsing virtual mounts without graphical tools.

It mimics the classic tree command but leverages GVFS backends for seamless integration with GNOME environments. When invoked without arguments, it defaults to the current working directory. Output shows directories with leading '├──' and '└──' indicators, files listed plainly, and supports recursion through subdirectories.

Key use cases include quick inspection of remote shares (e.g., gvfs-tree smb://host/share), debugging mount points, or scripting directory structures. It relies on the gvfsd daemon for backend operations, ensuring fuse-like access for non-local URIs. Unlike ls -R, it provides a visually compact tree format, aiding readability for deep hierarchies.

Installation is via the gvfs-bin package on Debian-based systems or equivalent. It's lightweight, with minimal dependencies beyond GVFS.

Requires running gvfsd daemon; limited to GVFS-supported backends; no customization options like depth limit or file filtering.

gvfs-tree .
gvfs-tree smb://server/share
gvfs-tree trash:///

Uses Unicode box-drawing characters for tree lines; directories end with '/', files do not.

Part of GVFS since version 1.0 (2008), developed by GNOME team as successor to GnomeVFS; enhanced in later releases for better URI handling and FUSE integration.

tree(1), gvfs-ls(1), ls(1), find(1)