upload

Transfer files between the browser and hosting: upload sends files, download retrieves them, and directories are returned as temporary TAR archives.

FilesVersion 1.2.4StableAliases: download
lil-terminal

Overview

upload turns the browser into a practical file bridge for hosts without SSH: send one or many files to the current directory or a chosen directory, replace deliberately with -f, and use download for the reverse path. Directory downloads are packed into a temporary TAR automatically, while PHP upload limits remain visible as hosting constraints rather than hidden application behavior.

Transfer files through the browser

Use upload and download for direct browser transfers; for deployments, combine them with archive commands so many files can move as one package.

Syntax

lil-terminal
upload [dst] [-f]

Reference

upload

choose and upload files to the current directory

upload <dir>

upload files to <dir>

upload <dir> -f

upload files to <dir> and replace same-named files

upload <file> -f

upload one file to an exact path and replace the existing file

download

archive and download the current directory

download <file>

download a readable file

download <dir>

archive a directory automatically and download the temporary TAR file

download <file|dir> -n <name>

use another download name (without renaming the source)

Upload destinations

With no destination, selected files are written to the current directory. upload <dir> creates a missing directory automatically. Add -f when same-named files in that directory may be replaced. upload <file> -f is the explicit one-file form for an exact replacement path.

Directory downloads

A bare download archives the current directory. download <dir> does the same for another directory. lil-terminal creates a temporary TAR named from the directory, timestamp and a short random suffix, streams it to the browser and removes the temporary file afterward. The source tree is not renamed or changed.

Hosting limits

One picker accepts at most 20 selected files. The effective size also depends on upload_max_filesize, post_max_size, max_file_uploads, temporary disk space, the web server and any reverse proxy or hosting control panel. A server may reject an oversized request before PHP and lil-terminal can inspect it.

Safety

Filenames are normalized, destinations use the regular filesystem resolver, and existing files are kept unless -f is explicit. Transfer tokens expire quickly and do not create a reusable public download URL.

Interactive sandbox preview

Run the prepared examples directly on the page. Their results are prebuilt and shown in the browser; no terminal command is executed on the server.

Upload files to <dir>

Install and manage

Install the current compatible version. Choose Base for the complete feature set or Minimum for the reduced package; use upgrade to update a module that is already installed.

Base and Minimum are two packages of the same current module release, not separate command versions.

Base package

Install the complete package with local command reference and every published mode.

install upload
Minimum package

Install the reduced package. Local reference is omitted; help <cmd> -i opens the current server reference.

install upload -m
Exact public version

Install exactly this published version.

install upload -v 1.2.4
Check or update

Ask upgrade to check compatibility and replace the installed block only when needed.

upgrade upload
Remove module

Remove the extension block while leaving the core and unrelated modules intact.

install upload -u

Examples

Examples are copyable command lines, not actions executed by this website. Review paths, permissions and destructive flags before running them on a real project.

Upload files to <dir>
cd \sandbox | pwd | upload images
sandbox

picker       opens immediately
destination  sandbox/images
Choose and upload files to the current directory
upload
picker       opens immediately
destination  current directory
Upload files to <dir> and replace same-named files
upload tmp -f
picker       opens immediately
destination  sandbox/tmp
replace      same-named files
Upload one file to an exact path and replace the existing file
upload tmp/replacement.txt -f
tmp/
  replacement.txt
Archive a directory automatically and download the temporary TAR file
download images
archive  images-20260809-a1b2.tar
source   sandbox/images
temporary archive removed after streaming

download is provided by the upload module; both directions share the same path and transfer safeguards.

Use another download name (without renaming the source)
download README.txt -n readme-copy.txt
Download started  readme-copy.txt
Source            sandbox/README.txt

download is provided by the upload module; both directions share the same path and transfer safeguards.

Handle a missing download target
download \sandbox\missing.txt
File or directory not found

download is provided by the upload module; both directions share the same path and transfer safeguards.

File used in this example: sandbox/tmp/README.txt

The example uses a file or directory from the protected /sandbox/ documentation workspace.

lil-terminal sandbox temporary workspace

Commands in the public documentation use this directory for disposable copies,
archives, uploads and files created during examples. Review destructive commands
before running them and restore the sandbox from the release package when needed.

Related documentation

How are filesystem operations protected? →Why are large files or outputs limited? →

Current public release

v1.2.42026-08-09

Language synchronization

Finalizes Local and Server Help synchronization and localization safety for upload.

# Version history