v1.0·Built with Go

Stop typing long
directory paths.

Goto is a tiny CLI tool that lets you bookmark directories with short names, then jump to them instantly from anywhere.

# Save a directory with a short name
$ gotocli goto add projects ~/Desktop/my_projects
Saved 'projects' -> ~/Desktop/my_projects

# Jump to it from anywhere
$ goto projects
~/Desktop/my_projects $

#Overview

📌

Bookmark

Save any directory with a short, memorable alias.

⚡

Jump

Instantly cd to any bookmarked directory by name.

📋

Manage

List all bookmarks or remove ones you no longer need.

How it works

Goto stores your directory bookmarks in a simple JSON file at ~/.goto.json. Each bookmark maps an alias name to an absolute directory path. The CLI binary reads and writes this file—no database, no daemon, no network calls. It's fast because there's nothing to slow it down.

#Installation

1. Build from source

Requires Go 1.25+ installed on your system.

# Clone the repository
$ git clone <repo-url>
$ cd goto_project/goto

# Build the binary
$ go build -o gotocli ./app

2. Add to your PATH

Move the binary somewhere on your PATH so you can run it from anywhere.

# Move to a directory in your PATH
$ sudo mv gotocli /usr/local/bin/

# Verify it works
$ gotocli goto list
No directories saved.

#Commands

add

Save a directory path with a short alias name. Paths with spaces are supported.

# Usage
$ gotocli goto add <name> <path>

# Example
$ gotocli goto add work ~/Documents/work/project-alpha
Saved 'work' -> ~/Documents/work/project-alpha

jump

Retrieve the path for a saved alias. Prints the path to stdout so it can be used with cd via a shell function.

# Usage
$ gotocli goto jump <name>

# Example
$ gotocli goto jump work
~/Documents/work/project-alpha

list

Display all saved directory bookmarks and their paths.

# Usage
$ gotocli goto list

# Example
$ gotocli goto list
  work -> ~/Documents/work/project-alpha
  docs -> ~/Documents

remove

Delete a saved directory bookmark by its alias name.

# Usage
$ gotocli goto remove <name>

# Example
$ gotocli goto remove work
Removed 'work'

#Shell Setup

The jump command prints a directory path but can't change your shell's working directory by itself. Add this shell function to your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc to enable goto <name> to actually change directories:

# Add to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
goto() {
  local dest
  dest=$(gotocli goto jump "$1")
  if [ $? -eq 0 ] && [ -n "$dest" ]; then
    cd "$dest"
  else
    echo "goto: '$1' not found"
  fi
}

# Then reload your shell
$ source ~/.zshrc

Why a shell function? A subprocess (like a Go binary) cannot change the parent shell's working directory. The shell function calls gotocli goto jump, captures the output path, and runs cd in the current shell session.

#Quick Reference

Action	Command
Save a directory	gotocli goto add <name> <path>
Jump to a directory	goto <name>
List all bookmarks	gotocli goto list
Remove a bookmark	gotocli goto remove <name>
Config file location	~/.goto.json

Stop typing longdirectory paths.