File manager for debian 9. File managers for linux and their features. File managers with graphical interface

And if when talking about managers for Windows and DOS, the number of various functions, with which the product is equipped, then in the case of file managers for Linux the situation is diametrically opposite, that is, the fewer various functions, the better. As a result, one side taking part in the dispute authoritatively declares that the truth lies in the console alone, while the other side gets bored and avoids further discussion.

In fact, why does a file manager need many functions? More precisely, why does it need functions other than the direct purpose of the product? If we turn back a few pages of history, we will find a young man - apparently a student - sitting in front of a 14-inch, as they called it, “VGA monitor” and briskly rearranging floppy disks in a three-inch floppy drive. At that time, the file manager really should have included the widest range of capabilities, since most people then worked in DOS, and DOS is by no means a multitasking system, although multitasking was relatively emulated in it using resident programs sitting in random access memory and from time to time showing signs of life.

When the classic Norton Commander was replaced by the no less classic Volkov Commander, everyone rejoiced greatly, and with the advent of DOS Navigator there was no limit to the delight. The world developed, Windows came - two titans appeared - FAR and Windows Commander, later renamed Total Commander. Both products, thanks to their plugin-supporting architecture, began to acquire add-ons. Peculiar subcultures of these products have emerged. Games are made for FAR and Total Commander, file viewers of different formats, email clients- you can find anything.

Here it is appropriate to pay attention to the reason - probably, multitasking is so unusual for the user in the system where these file managers work that people prefer to work with ONE program that combines the functions of MANY programs. I can't find any other logical explanation.

Now let's turn our attention to Linux. Windows users When encountering Linux file managers for the first time, they immediately call them “poor”, or some other words that cannot be printed. In fact, this is a misunderstanding of the basic principle of the system, its cornerstone - multitasking. This is where the origins lie. Therefore - this has always been the case - Linux program developers rarely make "harvesters". Every program must perform its intended function, and do it well.

By improving only those functions that correspond to the intended purpose of the program, the developer achieves best result. The following analogy can be given. There are two programmers - Ivanov and Prokhorov. Ivanov is trying to learn all programming languages ​​at once, while Prokhorov is trying to learn only Java. And so Prokhorov studies Java perfectly and finds a well-paid job, while Ivanov continues... to study a little bit of everything. A sniper must be a sniper, and if he goes to wave a bayonet, it will be of little use.

So, Linux file managers primarily have a narrow specialization. They work with files. The most popular among console file managers is Midnight Commander, whose appearance is most similar to the good old Norton Commander. Two blue panels, menu and status bars, command line - nothing more. Meanwhile, this is one of the most convenient file managers I have worked with. Although I use the KDE graphical environment, I often prefer to communicate with the file system in the console Midnight Commander - it constantly floats in the window on my screen.

Midnight Commander is perfectly Russified, in addition, it has a built-in viewer text files, which understands Russian encodings. No, I’m not contradicting myself when I talk about this “excess” - such a file viewer, as well as the editor built into Midnight Commander, are very necessary - because Linux has a lot configuration files, which often require editing, and such an editor is very convenient for programming, because it is equipped with syntax highlighting.

If you press Enter on a file in Midnight Commander, you will most likely be able to view, run, or play the file, depending on the nature of the file. Can Midnight Commander play music or show videos? No, he just has enough good settings By default, to launch the XMMS player for an MP3 file, Mplayer for a video, and the Display utility for an image. What's wrong with that, you say? After all, FAR can also call external utilities. I’ll ask a counter question - then why does he need plugins? This is not said reproachfully. Just a question.

Everything you need to work with files is present in Midnight Commander. This is an FTP client, and the ability to enter archives, like in a directory, and even the ability to perform some bulk operations on files. for the latter, just select the files in the list, then press F2 to display the User Menu and select the do something with the current file item there, and enter the command you need in the window that appears with the input field. For example, select such and such files with cartoons in DivX format. Press F2, select the above menu item, and enter the command: mplayer. All! All selected files will be displayed sequentially. By the way, the User Menu is perhaps the only menu that has not been translated into Midnight Commander. However, this does not make it any less useful. The Compress the current directory item allows you to archive the contents of the current directory. There are also functions for compressing and decompressing individual files.

From the console, let's now move on to the graphical shell and pay attention to another file manager - Krusader, the letter K at the beginning of the name of which eloquently indicates that this program belongs to graphical environment KDE. Krusader can be compared to Total Commander in appearance and set of functions.

Like Midnight Commander, Krusader allows you to work transparently with archives, FTP servers, etc. - all this is achieved through so-called virtual file systems. Krusader is also equipped with two panels, but each of them can contain several tabs, like pages in Opera browsers or Firefox. This is very convenient if you need to copy certain files from a dozen directories into one, while actively working simultaneously with each of these dozen directories.

Krusader includes a useful tool for synchronizing the contents of directories, a powerful search utility, a partition mount manager (with the ability to mount them automatically), a function for splitting a file into equal parts (for example, if you need to transfer large file on several floppy disks) and subsequent assembly of the file into a single whole from fragments. Krusader can interact with another utility - KRename, designed for bulk renaming of files according to a given pattern with various parameters.

Krusader is equipped with a built-in image viewer and text file viewer (based on the Kate editor, which means that there is syntax highlighting, encoding selection, and dozens of other functions). However, if something happens, Krusader can display the file in hexadecimal mode.

To quickly navigate between directories, Krusader provides a bookmark mechanism - and they can point to both local and network directories, for example somewhere on an FTP server.

So, Krusader can do everything that a file manager should be able to do. What about plugins, you ask? Plugins that provide access to other file systems, like the Total Commander plugins do? Everything is very simple. To Caesar - what is Caesar's. Linux itself provides access to different file systems, be it ext2/ext3, FAT32 or NTFS. This access is implemented at the system level; there is simply no need to repeat it in the file manager. Do you want to get to Windows partitions? No problem. Linux partitions? No problem either.

This again comes to the question that each program should do its own thing, and it is up to the operating system to provide the ability to work with file systems. The file manager shouldn't do this - and doesn't. On Linux. But for now Windows does not “see” Linux partitions and does not provide working access to them (although there are drivers for this third party developers), until then there will be corresponding plugins for file managers for the Windows platform.

The basis for working with the operating system is the file manager. Without the ability to view, delete, and change files on your device, it's nearly impossible to do anything. And if there has always been a standard “Explorer” for Windows, the variety of file managers for Linux is much greater.

File managers with graphical interface

Of course, if a person is trying Linux distributions for the first time, it will be easier and more convenient for him to understand those that have a clear interface similar to Windows or MacOS. The familiar appearance of the file manager is no exception, because the more externally similar there is to previous working shells, the faster the user will get used to the new environment.

Nautilus

This file manager is one of the most popular in the world and the CIS. It comes pre-installed with the GNOME distribution and has a simple and intuitive graphical interface. Nautilus allows you to access local and deleted files, is easy to use thanks to intuitive navigation, and also reliably protects files on the device.

Also, Nautilus:

• Allows you to create tabs similar to an Internet browser
• Supports scripts
• Saves navigation history
• Can leave bookmarks and has a preview function

Nemo

Nemo is a program that retained all the best from Nautilus until the developers of the latter stopped listening to the community and moved away from the original course.

Nemo advantages:

• Looks more compact than Nautilus
• Supports third party plugins
• Has the ability to create links
• Can drag and drop bookmarks
• Improved search that allows you to search both individual directories and the entire file system

Dolphin

Dolphin is a fully customizable manager from the KDE development suite. It is free and open source. Since Dolphin is not only a standard file manager for KDE (replacing Konqueror in this place), but also separate application, it can be installed on any distribution. Thanks to all this, it becomes one of the simplest, fastest and most convenient file managers for Linux.

It can preview files, supports shortcuts, has undo and redo functions, sorts files and has tab navigation.

File managers controlled via the console

A console file manager is almost archaic for a new user of Linux systems. The lack of graphics can be intimidating, but such programs have much wider functionality, which can also be expanded by the users themselves.

You can learn more about Dolphin in this article.

You can see the Dolphin installation at

Midnight Commander

Midnight Commander is the very first console file manager for Linux, but, nevertheless, it still does not lose ground and remains the most popular of its type.

To work with it, no graphic libraries are required; the main condition is the presence of a console or terminal. In addition, working with it is simplified thanks to two working windows, so MC is also a two-panel file manager. Just as in the two previous cases, here you can sort files and leave bookmarks, but in addition, you can give your categories and preferred files a detailed description.

Some of the problems with Midnight Commander lie in the fact that it is a console file manager. Like many like him, he cannot open graphic files or play a video. That is, the file itself opens, but instead of an image, the program shows information. In addition, for example, MC cannot open files in the .RTF format, but it opens .DOC - a more complex and secure format.

Other features:

• This is a two-panel file manager
• Bulk file renaming
• Creating templates for individual functions
• Works with archives
• Has a built-in text editor

The installation of Midnight Commander can be viewed at.

Last File Manager

LFM is a two-panel file manager that, when configured, also changes its appearance to a single-panel one. It is similar to its ancestor - Midnight Commander, but has a number of additional features. So, he can compare files with each other, change appearance according to user settings, works with archives, automatically converting them into directories, creates bookmarks and has browser-like history functions.

Tux Commander

Tux Commander is an attempt to create a file manager close to the interface and functionality of the classic Total Commander and become its conditional replacement for Linux systems. Alas, the development of the program is not happening as quickly as we would like, and a complete recreation of Total Commander, given today's pace, will not happen soon.

On the other hand, updates that rarely come out are a consequence of hard work on the quality of the product, and Tux, despite its poor advancement, is distinguished by excellent reliability. Tux Commander cannot yet open and edit documents on its own. For this we need third party programs, and the file manager needs to be trained to handle them - when the format is first opened, it checks whether it is executable required file, then asks you to choose the desired program and only then does it open.

Control occurs using the keyboard. The Backspace key returns to the parent directory, and the “~” key returns to the home directory.

Command line

Experienced users of Linux distributions can use the command line - one of the most powerful and most flexible tools to configure. Of course, this is not as convenient as a two-panel file manager, but the command line, with proper study, allows you to get everything you need in managing information.

Conclusion

This article contains only superficial information about the most popular and convenient file manager X. What you personally use is your choice, since for each person convenience is subjective.

In this article, you can choose the Best file manager in Linux for yourself. We tried to describe in as much detail as possible the main advantages of each file manager provided in this article. If you have your own interesting options, be sure to write to us about them in the comment form on our website.

By the way, we have already written about. Perhaps this will also be interesting to you. You can find the link to the article above.

File management is so important on a computer that users always want a simple and easy-to-use file manager or file browser. But sometimes it is very important to have a feature-rich and customizable file manager to perform both simple tasks such as searching, copying, moving, creating and deleting files, as well as complex operations such as remote access to SHH files and connections.

The best file manager for Linux

Whether you prefer a lightweight file manager with fewer features or a heavy duty file manager with lots of features and functionality, it all depends on how you manage your system.

Below is a list of some of the best file managers and browsers that can be found in different Linux distributions, and they can be installed using the default package management tool called apt, yum or dnf.

1. Konqueror File Manager

Konqueror is a powerful file manager for the KDE desktop, it offers simple file management features such as copying, moving, searching and deleting files, as well as some additional functions and features such as archive access, viewing and ripping of audio CDs, support for FTP access and SFTP servers, smb shares (Windows).

He has huge base users who believe that this is the Best file manager in Linux.

It has the following main features:

• Powered by KHTML engine
• Uses a universal file viewer
• Has customizable apps

1. Nautilus File Manager

Formerly known as Nautilus, it is a simple and standard file manager on the GNOME desktop that offers the user easy navigation and file management on a Linux system. Many people think that this is the best file manager in Linux.

GNOME Files is widely supported in several Linux desktop environments, hence making it one of the best and also the most popular.

It has some tempting features and they include:

• Easy to use menus
• Provides file security
• Easy to understand at first glance
• Provides access to local and remote files

1. Dolphin File Manager

Dolphin is a free and open source file manager developed as part of the KDE application suite. Designed for simplicity, flexibility and full customization, it allows users to easily browse, find, open, copy and move files across the Linux system.

This is the default file manager on KDE desktops starting with KDE 4, but KDE 3 users can also install and use it. It replaced Konqueror as KDE's default file manager with the following features:

• File Preview
• Breadcrumb Navigation Bar
• Three viewing modes (icons, compact and detailed)
• Split Views for Easily Movable Files
• Shortcut support
• Undo/redo actions
• Tabbed navigation
• Sort and group files by name, size, types and many other attributes

1. GNU Midnight Commander

It's free software, full-screen text mode, visual file manager that allows the user to search, copy, move, and delete files and even an entire directory tree.

This is a feature rich with some of these amazing features, especially for those who love to work on the terminal:

• Enables running commands in a subshell
• Has a built-in viewer and editor
• Based on generic text interfaces such as Ncurses or S-Lang, so it runs on a regular console, in X Window or SSH terms

1. File manager Krusader

It is also an advanced two-panel file manager that works similar to GNU Midnight Commander but in a GUI customization and has some great features including:

• Mounted file system support
• Advanced search module
• Extensive archive processing and support for multiple archive formats
• FTP support
• Directory synchronization
• Comparison of file contents
• Convenient and customizable

1. PCManFM File Manager

PCManFM is designed to replace the popular file managers Nautilus, Konqueror and Thunar, PCManFM is a standard and feature-rich file manager on LXDE dekstop and has the following features:

• Full GVFS support with access to remote file systems
• Four viewing modes (icon, compact, detailed, and thumbnail)
• Desktop control support
• Shows thumbnail image for photos
• Bookmark functionality
• Tabbed support
• Drag and drop support
• User-friendly GTK+ 2 interface
• Default file association support and many others as I mentioned are feature rich.

1. XFE File Manager

Next on our list of “Best File Manager for Linux” is XFE. It is a command file manager for X Windows, based on X Win Commander, which was discontinued for one reason or another.

The main goal of development was to offer a lightweight file manager for Unix-like operating systems, and it works well for those of you who like to work mostly in the terminal.

XFE also has rich functionality, but we won't cover them here, and some of them include:

• Very fast GUI
• Small traces of memory
• Four file manager modes; One panel, a directory tree and one panel, two panels and a directory tree and finally two panels
• UTF-8 support
• Search files and directories
• Disk usage command
• Status bars
• Root mode with authentication using utilities such as sudo and su
• Bookmark support
• Toolbar support
• Autosave registry and much more

1. Nemo File Manager

Nemo is the default file manager on desktop computer Cinnamon users Linux Mint should be familiar with it, it is a fork of the more popular GNOME files.

It's also lightweight and has a number of great features, including:

• Uses GVFS and GIO
• Open in terminal rack
• Open as root support
• Proper management of GTK bookmarks
• Full navigation options such as back, forward, up, refresh
• Supports multiple configuration options and more

1. Thunar File Manager

Thunar is a modern, lightweight file manager for the Xfce desktop, designed to be fast, responsive and easy to use. One thing you will like is its clean and intuitive interface with several important user settings.

It has some great features which include:

• High degree of connectivity
• Hidden settings
• Renaming multiple files at once
• Custom commands associated with common extensions
• Customizable menu submission and more

1. SpaceFM File Manager

SpaceFM is an excellent multi-panel file manager for Linux desktops. Some of its features designed to provide a stable, efficient, and customizable file manager include built-in VFS, HAL-based device manager, customizable menu system, and bash integration.

1. Caja - File Manager

Caja is the default file manager for the mate desktop, and it allows you to explore directories, view files, and launch related programs. It is also capable of handling icons in the assistant desktop environment and runs on local and remote file systems.

1. Ranger Console File Manager

Ranger is an open source terminal file manager with VI key bindings that provides a minimalistic and more user-friendly interface with a directory hierarchy view. It comes with a "rifle", a file starter that best determines which program to use for which format.

1. Command line file manager

It may not be a real file manager, but what is file management on a Linux system if we can't talk about command line. Very powerful and flexible approach, especially when you understand file Linux system and offer basic and advanced file management features such as searching, copying, moving, creating and deleting files, as well as FTP, SFTP, SMB servers, SHH connections and more. Of course, it's up to you to choose.

This list must have made many of you wonder why I have not mentioned some of your favorite file managers, but the list here is endless, trust me, if we want to see all the convenient and useful file managers in Linux, but the choice is up to you as a person.

If you have any questions regarding the topic " The best file manager for Linux“Then you can write to us about them in the comment form on the site.

Tell us what file manager do you use? This can be done, as always, in the form of comments on our website.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

As is known, in distributions Ubuntu The file manager is installed and used by default Nautilus, developed by the team Gnome. But if in previous versions Nautilus it was possible to enable two-panel mode (F3), then starting from the version Nautilus 3.6 this function absent.
In this short article, dear users Ubuntu, I would like to bring to your attention four two-panel file managers that are located in the repositories Ubuntu, and therefore in App Center: Midnight Commander; GNOME Commander; Tux Commander And Krusader:

Installation Midnight Commander very simple, just open it Ubuntu Application Center, enter the name in the search field and click the button Install or run the command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install mc

2. GNOME Commander

Install GNOME Commander also possible from Application Center or in the terminal with the command:

sudo apt-get install gnome-commander

3. Tux Commander

Possibilities:

1. two directory panels next to each other (vertical)
2. interface with tabs, buttons for quick access to favorite directories
3. custom panel for quick access to removable media and network resources
4. multilingual user interface
5. functionality is expanded through a plugin system
6. Extension-based actions on file types (file associations)

sudo apt-get install tuxcmd

4. Krusader

Provides all the file management features you could ever need.

Additionally: extensive archive processing capabilities, support for mounting file systems, FTP, an advanced search module, viewing and editing functions, directory synchronization, comparison of file contents, powerful batch file renaming tools and much more.

Supports the following archive formats: ace, arj, bzip2, deb, iso, lha, rar, rpm, tar, zip and 7-zip.

Supports the KIOSlaves mechanism, which makes protocols such as smb:// and fish:// available.

Krusader- fully customizable, user friendly, fast, will look great on your desktop.

P.S. There are other two-panel file managers like

Double Commander— two-panel file manager with open source code, running under Linux(GNOME, KDE environments), as well as in Microsoft Windows.
Double Commander - This is a cross-platform open source file manager, with two panels. The goal of this project is to create a file manager similar in functionality to Total Commander and compatible with its plugins.

Initially, the project was developed as a free alternative to the most popular file manager Total Commander. However, in the process of development, this manager has grown into a separate and powerful application that combines all the main functionality Total Commander(including support for its plugins), as well as some of its own special, convenient and useful options.

Unicode support.
All operations are performed in the background.
Bulk renaming tool.
Tabbed support.
Customizable speakers.
Built-in text editor (F4) with syntax highlighting.
Built-in file viewer (F3) to view files in hexadecimal, binary or text formats.
Working with archives is the same as with subdirectories; you can copy files to and from archives. Supported ZIP formats, tar (TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2), RPM, cpio, DEB, RAR.
Advanced file search, regular expressions when searching for files, including searching for text in any files.
Customizable toolbar with buttons to launch external programs or internal teams menu.
Support for WCX, WDX and WLX plugins from Total Commander.
Logging of file operations.

A version was released some time ago Double Commander 0.7.3 beta.

What's new in Double Commander 0.7.3?

Improvements in the program's operation
Bugs fixed

Installation Double Commander V Ubuntu/Linux Mint

Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), copy and run this sequence of commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexx2000/doublecmd
sudo apt update
sudo apt install doublecmd-gtk

Note. QT application option, so you need to install it if you have a desktop environment KDE.

For installation QT applications Double Commander run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install doublecmd-qt

After installation you will find Double Commander V Standard applications or search in the menu: