try is a command-line tool that creates and manages temporary experiment directories with fuzzy search navigation.
The tool solves the problem of scattered experimental projects across a filesystem by centralizing them in a single configurable location with smart organization. It automatically creates date-prefixed directories, making it easy to track when experiments were created. The approach uses fuzzy search to quickly find and navigate to past experiments, with intelligent ranking that prioritizes recently accessed directories and rewards shorter, more specific matches. The interface displays match scores and time-since-access information to help users understand why results are ranked as they appear.
Developers who frequently prototype ideas, learn new technologies, or run one-off tests should consider try. It suits anyone frustrated by accumulating test directories across their filesystem or losing work scattered in temporary locations. The tool requires only Ruby and has no external dependencies, making it lightweight to install either as a gem or a single Ruby script. A native binary compiled with Spinel is also available as an optional alternative to the Ruby runtime.
The project has attracted a substantial base of adopters who report real-world issues and use cases, indicating practical value beyond the original author's needs. Response times to issues and pull requests typically fall within one to two weeks.
