What it does
navi is an interactive command-line cheatsheet tool. It browses short command examples, prompts for values such as a branch or file path, then lets the user run the completed command. A cheatsheet is a small text file with tags, a description, optional value-generating commands and an executable line. navi can run as a terminal command or as a shell or tmux widget, and its upstream README says it is in bug-fix-only maintenance mode.
A useful first cheatsheet is one safe command that you often forget. In a .cheat file, tags begin with %, descriptions with #, and a $ line can generate choices for a variable. The official syntax guide shows this structure:
% git, code
# Change branch
git checkout $ branch: git branch | awk '{print $NF}'
Run navi to search by tag or description, choose a suggested branch and review the resulting command. A shell widget can place the command into the shell history so it can be edited before execution. navi relies on fzf or skim for its interactive selection interface.
The README states that the project still receives bug fixes but has no new features planned. That makes it a reasonable fit for an established command library, but not a good choice if future feature development is important. The repository's Apache 2.0 license applies to the project code.
Strengths
- Cheatsheets can generate suggested values for command arguments instead of requiring every value to be typed from memory.
- The project supports direct terminal use and shell or tmux widget workflows.
- Cheatsheets are editable text files that can be maintained alongside other developer configuration.
Watch out for
- The upstream project says it is in maintenance mode and plans no new features, although bug fixes continue.
- Its interactive chooser depends on `fzf` or `skim`.
Best for
- Keeping reusable command examples searchable from a terminal.
- Building command templates that prompt for branches, files or other arguments.
Sources
- denisidoro/navi official repository and README (Oct 26, 2026)
- navi cheatsheet syntax guide (Oct 26, 2026)
- navi Apache 2.0 license (Oct 26, 2026)