Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation

#1

Post by delopsu » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 2:11 PM UTC

I got this idea recently when I had to browse files more than usual and felt the pain: why do I need to click through every level when I want to drill down to the bottom?

So I made a quick interactive prototype — it feels surprisingly natural.

Sharing it as a UX idea, not as a finished implementation. I’d like to see whether this interaction makes sense for apps that work with trees: file explorers, object inspectors, project browsers, and similar interfaces.

Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation
delopsu.com

Re: Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation

#2

Post by aghilmort » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 2:16 PM UTC

interesting. tried it on iPhone SE. hard to do safari keeps thinking want to exit page. sliding one touch left right or u/d both might be good alt? certainly better than trad click exactly here on this little folder dart

Re: Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation

#3

Post by delopsu » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 2:25 PM UTC

aghilmort wrote: post #2

interesting. tried it on iPhone SE. hard to do safari keeps thinking want to exit page. sliding one touch left right or u/d both might be good alt? certainly better than trad click exactly here on this little folder dart

Thank you for checking it. Yes, noticed iOS issue too. Fixing rn.

> sliding one touch left right or u/d both

This could work, need to experiment more.

Re: Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation

#4

Post by delopsu » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 2:51 PM UTC

aghilmort wrote: post #2

interesting. tried it on iPhone SE. hard to do safari keeps thinking want to exit page. sliding one touch left right or u/d both might be good alt? certainly better than trad click exactly here on this little folder dart

Fixed mobile (touch) version.

Re: Show HN: Pinch-to-zoom tree navigation

#5

Post by gsvprharsha » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 3:11 PM UTC

hi I tried and I had difficulty in using it. As pointed out by the others, it is on iphone. On my laptop it was constantly zooming the page. And it was a little difficult to use.

Hope it is useful feedback. Interesting design though!