nsxiv

Free plan Linux

What nsxiv is

nsxiv is a Linux image viewer and a mostly drop-in replacement for sxiv, which is unmaintained. It retains the earlier interface while adding simple features. Image mode displays one image, while thumbnail mode shows a grid of previews for selecting files. Basic controls cover zoom, pan, and rotation, and the viewer can play animations in multi-frame images. It can cache thumbnails for quicker reloads, with options to clear the cache and choose which directories are included. Users can change keyboard and mouse mappings through config.h and set supported appearance options with Xresources. An external key handler can add commands and operate on selected images; user-provided scripts can also tailor status-bar information. The --private option prevents cache and temporary files from being written. nsxiv is free software under GPL-2.0-or-later. Building and installing it requires X11 and Imlib2 version 1.11 or later built with X11 support; the project provides source and make-based instructions through Codeberg.

Who it suits

It suits Linux users who want a customizable image viewer and are comfortable building software with its required dependencies. The project also provides guidance for users who want to implement their own features.

What it does well

Image and thumbnail viewing modes.
Supports zooming, panning, rotation, and animations.
Customizable keyboard and mouse mappings.
Can avoid cache and temporary files in private mode.
Free software licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later.

What to know first

Linux platform only.
Requires X11 and Imlib2 1.11 or later.
Requires building and installing with make.

Limits

The software requires Linux, X11, and Imlib2 version 1.11 or later built with X11 support. Its documented installation route is building and installing from source with make.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
nsxiv	GPL-2.0-or-later software	Free

As nsxiv.codeberg.page lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Download the source code from Codeberg
Install X11 and Imlib2 1.11 or later with X11 support
Build the project with make
Install the resulting program
Customize config.h, Xresources, or scripts if needed
Open images in image or thumbnail mode

Verdict

nsxiv offers image browsing, thumbnail caching, and customization through configuration and scripts. Its Linux-only platform and build dependencies are important considerations.

Questions

What does nsxiv cost?

It is free software, with the nsxiv plan listed as free.

Which operating systems does nsxiv support?

The listed platform is Linux.

What image controls are included?

You can zoom, pan, and rotate images, and play animations in multi-frame images.

Can nsxiv be customized?

Yes. Keyboard and mouse mappings, supported Xresources appearance options, external key handling, and status-bar scripts can be customized.

What license does nsxiv use?

nsxiv is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later.

Does it write cache files?

Thumbnail caching is available, while the --private option prevents cache and temporary files from being written.

Facts from nsxiv's own pages

Animated images: nsxiv supports playback of animations in multi-frame images. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Customization: Keyboard and mouse mappings can be customized through config.h, and Xresources can set supported appearance options. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Dependencies: The required dependencies are X11 and Imlib2 version 1.11 or later built with X11 support. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Founded: 2021 · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 28 Sept 2026
Image controls: Basic operations include zooming, panning, and rotating images. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Image viewing: The image mode shows the current image, while thumbnail mode displays a grid of previews for selecting images. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Installation: The project provides source code through Codeberg and documents building and installing with make. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes itself as easy to modify and customize, and provides guidance for users who want to implement their own features. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
License: nsxiv is free software licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Private mode: The --private option prevents nsxiv from writing cache or temporary files. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: nsxiv is a fork of the unmaintained sxiv intended as a mostly drop-in replacement that keeps its interface and adds simple features. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Scripting: A configurable external key handler can add keyboard commands and act on selected images. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Status bar: User-provided image-info and thumb-info scripts can customize information shown in the status bar. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The project asks users to file bug reports on Codeberg after checking they use the latest release. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026
Thumbnail cache: nsxiv can cache thumbnails for faster reloads and offers options to clean the cache and control which directories are cached. · nsxiv.codeberg.page, 11 Oct 2026

Where nsxiv stands on Freedom251

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