> Proper collapsible/expandable tree view View -> as List: Check it out, tree view.

> Ability to see and create symlinks Finder has this. Symlinks look like their originals but with a little arrow overlay. Drag and hold Command+Option to create a symlink.

> See file access, create, modify times Again, Finder already has this (mostly). While in list view, go to View -> Show View Options and check Date Modified and Date Created.

> General single window operation - I shouldn't ever need to open another window to move or copy files You don't need to. Command+C and Command+V work just fine with files.

To be fair, this creates an Alias, which is a Finder/GUI level construct, and not a file system level contstruct like a symlink. If you're just doing things graphically, there's not a significant difference, but at the command line an Alias won't do you any good. Symlinks work the same at the command line or in the GUI.

(I know aliases are a holdover from classic, but I don't see why they weren't replaced with symlinks during the OS X transition.)

That alias also points to the same file no matter which Mac it is moved to, so if you create an alias to a folder on a server, you can copy that to 10 different Macs and it will always resolve so long as it can contact the file server.

Since they act so differently, you really can't replace one with the other without breaking expected behavior.

That's not a symlink, at least not in the unix sense (not the same thing as 'ln' or 'ln -s', which I think is what the author is looking for, and what I'd like as well).

and for moving files, just drag and hover to activate spring folders (or whatever they're called). Very handy.

A tree view in the contents pane is a little clumsy for my liking. And as another poster pointed out, Finder doesn't make real symlinks. Thanks for the info re: Date Modified and Date Created tho.

I'd highly recommend it.

Granted, I'm not much of a Quicksilver pro, I mostly just use it to launch apps, but I have my doubts that I'll ever use it for opening folders unless it's one of the few commonly named home folders (Downloads, Documents, Sites, etc).

edit:

Though if you know some special tips or tricks to open folders with QS with tab-complete to get the right path and all that, I wouldn't mind knowing about them.

PathFinder - http://cocoatech.com/

ForkLift - http://www.binarynights.com/

MacExplorer - http://www.ragesw.com/products/explorer.html (if you like Windows Explorer)

Personally I want something like Norton Commander (or the modern day FAR), but MC doesn't cut it for me.

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/05/terminal-tips-enable-path-vie...

I use Quicksilver for most my navigating needs. Also you can copy, move, delete a file using QS.

http://www.usingmac.com/2007/10/6/moving-files-with-quicksil...

Another tip is using command + 1-4, which will change your view.

PathFinder might let you create symlinks, though pretty much everything should display them with a little arrow overlay.

> Preview of SVG files

I don't think any finder replacement will do this for you. If you have an app that can edit SVG files, it should be generating a preview for you. I know that doesn't help much but in short, look for a SVG preview generator, or something along those lines.

> SFTP/SCP support

Likewise, I think you need a 3rd party solution. MacFuse or Expandrive (which is basically a nice UI on MacFuse). Pity finder doesn't handle this though, yet more insecure FTP use encouraged...

> ACL / old style mode changes

command-i, under 'sharing & permissions' gives you most of this (which you probably know), but no non-standard options like suid/sgid. I imagine PathFinder has a nice UI for this.

> Nautilus style icon or text navigation pane (so I can paste a file path)

Not what you asking, but fyi command-shift-G does this in Finder (even has tab complete)

This also works in Open/Save dialogs, if you just start typing a "/".

IANASVGE (I am not an SVG expert): while I'm surprised Finder doesn't show SVG previews, if you use quicklook (hit space with the file selected), it will show you a preview. You can also open SVGs in Safari.

I've been an OSX devotee for a long time, and I feel your pain. I use forklift because it's relatively lightweight on the memory and it does what I need to do efficiently. I was thinking of going with PathFinder, but I decided against it because it was a bit too memory heavy for me. PathFinder has more features, but then again, I'm not looking for a command-line replacement...just a more convenient way of navigating through folders, copying things over, finding things...

I would love to have free time and make a file manager that is as light and useful as windows explorer (imho it's much better than any *nix file manager)

Wish it had auto-complete of paths, though.