BANG
3D FILE EXPLORER
BANG is an interstellar file explorer and management system.
Folders render as galaxies containing other folders and files. Files render as planets, scaled by file size, colored by file type, and shaded by age and recent activity. The core sits at the center, your chosen “origin” folder: the literal center of your file management universe, anchoring you as you navigate the space of your hard drive.
WHY BANG?
BANG started as a personal Process-art piece in my Kali Linux build. A python function to visualize file structure and interaction that ended up remapping the universe. Some folders are dense and alive with activity; others are abandoned dead ends of space. None of that visually shows in a normal file explorer. The files metadata however tells the story of each file life itself, which gave me an idea…
BANG.
BANG turns your hard drives metadata into a new graphical user interface (GUI) Every folder becomes a galaxy of clusters whose color reflects the file type makeup of what’s inside it.
It’s a place, it’s your own interstellar experience. One you can fly through, orbit, and actually see the makeup of.
How bang works
Living, Evolving Textures
Every planet’s surface is generated, not static. Two independent forces shape how a file looks:
- How long it’s existed
- How recently it’s been accessed
A brand-new file might look like a bare, undeveloped world. An old, well-used file might look like a thriving settlement. An old file not opened in months looks dim and derelict.
The result is a filesystem where age and activity are something you can see from a cosmos away, across every file type: documents, code, images, video, audio, archives, and more each adjustable to match your computers personal aesthetics.
Natural Navigation
Fly through the universes that are your file storage with 360° navigation, orbit, zoom, and pan, the same way you would navigate any 3D scene. It was designed to feel natural.
Reimagined File Viewing
Bang runs as a real desktop application using Python and the Windows WebView2 runtime already built into Windows 10 and 11. The 3D universe itself is rendered with Three.js. The first time you open it, you choose a folder to become your universe’s origin; everything inside it, and its subfolders, becomes part of the galaxy you see. That choice is logged, so every future launch drops you right back into your universe.
System folders are protected by default, so there’s no risk of Bang touching anything it shouldn’t. Large folders, even ones with thousands of files, stay responsive, with rendering settings you can tune.
Click a planet or galaxy to inspect it. Double-click to open a file with whatever program your OS already has associated with it, or to enter a folder and see what planets and gallery’s are nested inside. It’s a real, live view of your actual filesystem, with real file operations (rename, move, organize, even a non-destructive “graveyard” instead of permanent delete) built in.
Customize and save all visual options in app, including resetting the core file, updated each layer refresh.
FAQ
Windows says it “protected your PC” when I run the download. Why? Bang’s .exe isn’t code-signed (certificates cost money; BANG is an independent project). Windows SmartScreen flags any unsigned executable. Click “More info” → “Run anyway,” or build it yourself from the source on GitHub.
Does Bang send my data anywhere? No. Bang runs entirely on your machine. Your filesystem is read locally to build the universe, and nothing is transmitted.
Is it open source? Yes — the full source is on GitHub (MIT)
Can Bang damage my files? System folders are protected by default, files go to the graveyard instead, where they can be restored.
Linux or Mac version? Bang was born as a Python experiment on Linux, so a Linux build is planned. The current release targets the Windows WebView2 runtime.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit).
WebView2 runtime (preinstalled on nearly all Windows 10/11 systems)