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handlr-regex is a Linux command-line utility for setting default applications by file extension or MIME type—and, unlike the original handlr, routing matching inputs with regular expressions. You can use ordinary defaults for files such as PDFs and images, then add regex rules for cases such as opening selected URLs in a particular application.

What handlr-regex does

The handlr-regex project describes the program as a fork of handlr with regex support. Its README presents it as a way to manage default applications, but that is project copy rather than an independent evaluation. The practical distinction is that it combines familiar extension- and MIME-based defaults with configurable pattern-based handlers.

  • Set or inspect handlers for file extensions and MIME types.
  • Match arbitrary commands against regular expressions.
  • Determine MIME types using file extensions and file contents.
  • Open multiple files in one invocation.
  • Optionally select among matching handlers through a selector such as rofi or dmenu.
  • Use helper commands intended for scripts, including JSON output.

Set or inspect a default handler

The README’s examples illustrate the command forms; the named desktop entries are examples, not a guarantee that those applications are installed on your system.

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Goal Example
Open a path or URL handlr open <path-or-URL>
Set the handler for PNG files handlr set .png feh.desktop
Set the handler for a MIME type handlr set application/pdf evince.desktop
List configured handlers handlr list
Check the handler for an extension handlr get .png
Check a path or URL’s detected MIME type handlr mime <path-or-URL>

The README also shows wildcard MIME matching, for example text/*. Wildcard expansion is optional and off by default, so do not assume it is active unless you enable it in configuration.

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Route inputs with regular expressions

Regex handlers are configured in ~/.config/handlr/handlr.toml. Each [[handlers]] entry pairs an execution command with one or more patterns in a regexes array. The project README illustrates routing YouTube URLs to FreeTube; that is an example configuration, not an application bundled with handlr-regex.

[[handlers]]
exec = "freetube"
regexes = ["^https?://(www\.)?youtube\.com/", "^https?://youtu\.be/"]

Adjust the command and patterns to the application and inputs you actually use. A regex handler is useful when a single extension or MIME type is too broad—for example, when a URL pattern should go to a particular application while other URLs continue through ordinary handling.

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Install handlr-regex

The project README documents three installation routes. Availability and instructions can change, so check the project’s repository for the current guidance.

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  • Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S handlr-regex
  • Cargo: cargo install handlr-regex
  • Release binary: download a release binary and place it somewhere on your PATH.

The docs.rs package page lists version 0.13.0 with a release date of 2025-05-29. That dated entry does not establish which version is latest now. See the docs.rs version record and the handlr-regex project repository for package and project details.

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Optional settings to consider

Use handlr-regex in place of xdg-open

The README documents an optional user-scoped script for using handlr-regex in place of xdg-open. This changes how applications that call that command are routed; it is not required to use handlr-regex directly from the terminal.

Choose among multiple handlers

If you want an interactive choice when more than one handler is available, enable enable_selector in the TOML configuration and optionally set a selector command such as rofi or dmenu. Add the handlers you want to choose between. Without this setup, the selector feature is not automatically enabled.

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Configure terminal applications

Terminal emulators differ in how they accept a command to run. The README notes that some setups may need term_exec_args in ~/.config/handlr/handlr.toml: one emulator may use -e, another may require a different argument, and another may need no extra argument. Use the convention for your installed terminal rather than copying a setting blindly.

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Which matching approach should you use?

Need Approach
A stable default for a file type Set a handler by extension or MIME type with handlr set.
Different handling based on a URL or other pattern Add a regex handler in handlr.toml.
A choice among multiple suitable handlers Enable the selector and configure a selector command.
Wildcard matching such as text/* Enable wildcard expansion if you need it; the project says it is off by default.
Opening an application in a terminal Configure terminal execution arguments when your emulator requires them.

The project documentation describes these capabilities and settings; it does not provide benchmark results or an independent comparative study. For current syntax and configuration details, consult the project README.

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