Basic [tree](https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/trusty/man1/tree.1.html) alternative where `--filelimit` defines the maximum number of entry to display per folder, instead of the maximum of entry to display a folder.

tree.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
File: tree.py
Author: Arthur Findelair
Date: 2024-05-18
Description: Basic [tree](https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/trusty/man1/tree.1.html) alternative where `--filelimit`
             defines the maximum number of entry to display per folder, instead of the maximum of entry to display a folder.
"""

from pathlib import Path
from typing import Optional


def list_files(
    startpath: Path,
    max_entries: Optional[int] = None,
    max_depth: Optional[int] = None,
    current_depth: int = 0,
    prefix: str = "",
):
    """
    Recursively lists files and directories in a tree-like format.

    Args:
        startpath (Path): The starting directory path.
        max_entries (Optional[int]): The maximum number of entries to display per directory.
        max_depth (Optional[int]): The maximum depth to traverse.
        current_depth (int): The current depth in the directory tree.
        prefix (str): The prefix for formatting the tree structure.
    """
    if max_depth is not None and current_depth > max_depth:
        return

    entries = sorted(startpath.iterdir())
    displayed_entries = entries if max_entries is None else entries[:max_entries]
    entries_count = len(displayed_entries)

    for i, entry in enumerate(displayed_entries):
        connector = "├── " if i < entries_count - 1 else "└── "
        print(prefix + connector + entry.name)

        if entry.is_dir():
            extension = "│   " if i < entries_count - 1 else "    "
            list_files(
                startpath=entry,
                max_entries=max_entries,
                max_depth=max_depth,
                current_depth=current_depth + 1,
                prefix=prefix + extension,
            )

    if max_entries is not None and len(entries) > max_entries:
        not_displayed_count = len(entries) - max_entries
        print(prefix + f"    ... ({not_displayed_count} more)")


def display_tree(
    startpath: str,
    max_entries: Optional[int] = None,
    max_depth: Optional[int] = None,
    show_full_path: bool = False,
):
    """
    Displays a tree-like structure of a directory.

    Args:
        startpath (str): The starting directory path.
        max_entries (Optional[int]): The maximum number of entries to display per directory.
        max_depth (Optional[int]): The maximum depth to traverse.
    """
    startpath = Path(startpath).resolve()
    if startpath.is_dir():
        print(str(startpath) if show_full_path else startpath.name + "/")
        list_files(
            startpath=startpath,
            max_entries=max_entries,
            max_depth=max_depth,
            current_depth=1,
            prefix="",
        )
    else:
        print("The specified path is not a directory")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    import argparse

    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
        description="Display a tree-like structure of a directory."
    )
    parser.add_argument("directory", type=str, help="The directory to display.")
    parser.add_argument(
        "--filelimit",
        type=int,
        help="Do not display more than # entries per directory.",
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "--level",
        "-L",
        type=int,
        help="Max display depth of the directory tree.",
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "--show_full_top_path",
        action="store_true",
        help="Show full path instead of just the directory name.",
    )

    args = parser.parse_args()

    display_tree(
        args.directory,
        max_entries=args.filelimit,
        max_depth=args.level,
        show_full_path=args.show_full_top_path,
    )