explaingit

prasathmani/tinyfilemanager

5,887PHPAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 1/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A single PHP file you drop onto any web server to get a browser-based file manager, no install, no database, no extra software required beyond copying one file.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((tinyfilemanager))
    What it does
      Browse files
      Upload and edit
      Compress archives
    Tech stack
      PHP single file
      No database
    Use cases
      Server admin
      File uploads
      Code editing
    Security
      Change default creds
      IP allowlist
      Remove after use
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Browse and manage files on a web server through a browser when SSH access is unavailable.

USE CASE 2

Upload batches of files to a server via drag-and-drop or by pulling from a URL.

USE CASE 3

Edit configuration or code files on a live server using the built-in code editor with syntax highlighting.

USE CASE 4

Get temporary admin access to a server file system for a one-off task, then remove the file.

Tech stack

PHPDocker

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Must change default credentials (admin/admin@123) before exposing to any network, not intended for permanent public deployment.

GPL, you can use and modify this freely, but any software you distribute that includes it must also be open source under the GPL.

In plain English

Tiny File Manager is a single PHP file that gives you a web-based interface for browsing, uploading, editing, and managing files on a server. The entire application is one file, tinyfilemanager.php, which you copy into any folder on your web server to get started. There is no installation process, database, or additional software required. Once running, it lets you create, delete, rename, copy, move, download, and view files through a browser. Uploads support drag-and-drop and pulling files directly from a URL. Files can be compressed into zip or tar archives and extracted in the same interface. A built-in code editor handles text and code files with syntax highlighting for over 150 programming languages and more than 35 color themes. The tool supports multiple user accounts, each with its own assigned folder. Access can be locked down using session-based authentication, and you can restrict or allow connections from specific IP addresses. There are also options to preview documents like PDFs, Word files, spreadsheets, and presentations using Google or Microsoft document viewers. It supports PHP 5.5 and newer, and the interface has been translated into more than 35 languages. A Docker deployment option is documented on the project wiki for those who prefer containerized setups. The README includes a clear warning: this tool is not meant to be left running permanently on a public-facing server. The default login credentials are intentionally simple (admin/admin@123), and the documentation strongly recommends changing them before use and removing the file from the server once the task is done. It is best suited for short-term administrative access to a server's file system. The project is licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I have a shared PHP web server and need temporary file access. Show me how to deploy tinyfilemanager.php, change the default admin password, and restrict access to my IP address.
Prompt 2
Using tinyfilemanager, how do I create a read-only user account that can browse but not delete or upload files?
Prompt 3
I want to use tinyfilemanager with Docker. Write a docker-compose.yml that mounts a local directory into the container and exposes the interface on port 8080.
Prompt 4
How do I enable the tinyfilemanager Google Docs viewer so users can preview PDF and Word files in the browser without downloading them?
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