Linux users: These text-based file managers are overlooked gems - Planet Storyline
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Terminal-based file managers may seem a little old school, but these two options for Linux will come in handy for a variety of tasks. Image: iStock/Spectral-Design Terminal-based file managers may seem like relics of ancient times, but even in this age of touchscreens, nothing can handle hundreds of files more efficiently. Besides, a terminal may […]
  • GenkiFeral
    4·
    3 years ago

    I just installed the cnurses MOC for music in console and happened upon using a file manager in terminal, too. good timing. If it has better search abilities than Thunar, that would be amazing. Probably requires my learning regex, though (ugh).

    • ParkCity
      4·
      3 years ago

      learning regex is a wonderful epiphany though, once you DO get there!!! it’s always a good tool to have at your side.

  • GenkiFeral
    4·
    3 years ago

    the keybindings…I wish FOSS would settle on standard keybindings. I have no time or energy to learn a new set of keybinding for every dang program I try out. I didn’t read anything in that article that made me think these programs had magical skills for finding files with scant info. Both MarkText (FOSS) and Obsidian (proprietary) can do that.

    • Liwott
      5·
      3 years ago

      Alternatively, I wish more programs would offer editable keybindings

      • ree
        1·
        3 years ago

        Almost all foss program does

    • freely
      1·
      3 years ago

      I’ve used it for a while. Not sure how nnn compares, but it works well for me. Can set it up to render images with w3c, open PDFs in stuff like Zathura, etc.

    • GenkiFeral
      1·
      3 years ago

      when I was reading a bit about ncurses, a few guys mentioned ranger, but no one mentioned the other one.

  • HMH
    3·
    3 years ago

    I honestly do not understand terminal file managers, what’s their appeal, how are they better than what my command line already offers to me? I am not trying to dismiss them, I just plain do not understand how they are useful to people.

    • freely
      2·
      3 years ago

      For me, it’s quicker if I don’t remember the exact file name or location. Just see a list, enter a dir, repeat. Instead of typing ls and cd, it’s hjkl movement

    • mieum
      1·
      3 years ago

      I’ve used both ranger and nnn fairly extensively, but I remember wondering the same thing before I tried out terminal file managers seriously. I think they are easier to use and more versatile. With a few key strokes you can perform bulk actions on a large number of files in various locations. You can run arbitrary commands on a selection of files, and define your own functionality fairly easily. Plus, if you ever work in a non-graphical environment, like on a remote server, then they are very nifty to have in your toolbelt.

  • mieum
    3·
    3 years ago

    Another one worth mentioning is lf. It is a minimal clone of ranger written in Go, and is much faster—especially on slower systems like little SBCs.