transfer.nvim

Description

Transfer.nvim is a lightweight Neovim plugin that lets you manually upload, download, and diff files or directories between your local workspace and remote servers via rsync and OpenSSH.

It supports mapping multiple local and remote paths, excluded path, and more.

Ideal for developers who prefer precise, command-driven deployment workflows.

Suitable for small projects where there is no need for CI/CD.

Install

Lazy.nvim

{
  "coffebar/transfer.nvim",
  lazy = true,
  cmd = { "TransferInit", "DiffRemote", "TransferUpload", "TransferDownload", "TransferDirDiff", "TransferRepeat" },
  opts = {},
},

Commands

• TransferInit - create a config file and open it. Just edit if it already exists.
• DiffRemote - open a diff view with the remote file.
• TransferRepeat - repeat the last transfer command (except TransferInit, DiffRemote).
• TransferUpload [path] - upload the given file or directory.
• TransferDownload [path] - download the given file or directory.
• TransferDirDiff [path] - diff the directory with the remote one and display the changed files in the quickfix.

Deployment config example

-- .nvim/deployment.lua
return {
  ["example_name"] = {
    host = "myhost",
    username = "web", -- optional
    mappings = {
      {
        ["local"] = "live", -- path relative to project root
        ["remote"] = "/var/www/example.com", -- absolute path or relative to user home
      },
      {
        ["local"] = "test",
        ["remote"] = "/var/www/test.example.com",
      },
    },
    excludedPaths = { -- optional
      "live/src/", -- local path relative to project root
      "test/src/",
    },
  },
}

Example ~/.ssh/config for passwordless auth:

Host myhost
  HostName 127.1.177.12
  User web
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/myhost_key

Host server2
  ...

Suggested mappings

Neo-tree

{
  window = {
    mappings = {
      -- upload (sync files)
      uu = {
        function(state)
          vim.cmd("TransferUpload " .. state.tree:get_node().path)
        end,
        desc = "upload file or directory",
        nowait = true,
      },
      -- download (sync files)
      ud = {
        function(state)
          vim.cmd("TransferDownload" .. state.tree:get_node().path)
        end,
        desc = "download file or directory",
        nowait = true,
      },
      -- diff directory with remote
      uf = {
        function(state)
          local node = state.tree:get_node()
          local context_dir = node.path
          if node.type ~= "directory" then
            -- if not a directory
            -- one level up
            context_dir = context_dir:gsub("/[^/]*$", "")
          end
          vim.cmd("TransferDirDiff " .. context_dir)
          vim.cmd("Neotree close")
        end,
        desc = "diff with remote",
      },
    },
  },
}

Which-key

require("which-key").add({
  { "<leader>u", group = "Upload / Download", icon = "" },
  {
    "<leader>ud",
    "<cmd>TransferDownload<cr>",
    desc = "Download from remote server (scp)",
    icon = { color = "green", icon = "󰇚" },
  },
  {
    "<leader>uf",
    "<cmd>DiffRemote<cr>",
    desc = "Diff file with remote server (scp)",
    icon = { color = "green", icon = "" },
  },
  {
    "<leader>ui",
    "<cmd>TransferInit<cr>",
    desc = "Init/Edit Deployment config",
    icon = { color = "green", icon = "" },
  },
  {
    "<leader>ur",
    "<cmd>TransferRepeat<cr>",
    desc = "Repeat transfer command",
    icon = { color = "green", icon = "󰑖" },
  },
  {
    "<leader>uu",
    "<cmd>TransferUpload<cr>",
    desc = "Upload to remote server (scp)",
    icon = { color = "green", icon = "󰕒" },
  },
})

Recommended to use with

• rcarriga/nvim-notify - animated popup notifications.
• nvim-neo-tree/neo-tree.nvim - file explorer.
• coffebar/neovim-project - project management.

Migration from JetBrains config

Check this repo for converting you config from JetBrains projects.

Config

Look at defaults and overwrite anything in your opts.

Demo video

transfer.nvim.mp4

Not tested or not working:

• Windows paths;
• SSH Auth that is not passwordless.

Contributing

Feel free to contribute, open issues, and submit pull requests to help us improve transfer.nvim.

Run tests with make test.

Follow the Conventional Commits specification for commit naming.

Related projects

• KenN7/vim-arsync
• OscarCreator/rsync.nvim