Re:Review of 8 Linux file managers to try (2015)
by pfranz on Saturday July 16, 2016 @04:04PM
(#12107670)
I agree. The only time I seem to reach for a file manager in Linux is when I have a folder of files and need to choose files using a non-obvious criteria (like delete zero-size files or find filenames that are repeated). These are cases where coming up with the shell command takes longer than just sorting and pointing at something.
Otherwise, I prefer the shell because of things like history, job control, and tab completion. I've had users ask me about Nautilus and I kind of blank because I would have just used Bash.
I haven't used Windows in years (I'm quite comfortable with Finder and decent with Nautilus) and find Explorer really awkward to use. I'm sure it's just lack of familiarity. 15 years ago the situation would have been reversed for me.
Re:Review of 8 Linux file managers to try (2015)
by gmluke on Saturday July 16, 2016 @01:13PM
(#12107053)
I agree... given bash combined with a tiling window-manager, I've found very little use for a file manager. The only exception that comes to mind is when browsing a directory of photos, because in that case thumbnails are more informative than file names.
Re:Review of 8 Linux file managers to try (2015)
by brudgers on Saturday July 16, 2016 @02:45PM
(#12107414)
I've been using Darktable. The high level "one thing done well" is photos. Part of the issue with file managers is that files are often the wrong abstraction. In my typical use case when I'm dealing with photos, their geographic location in the file system isn't a high priority.
For me, Bash (or whatever) are great file managers, it's just that the necessary complexity of managing files on Linux manifests itself as necessary complexity in the command line. Sure, Bash (or whatever) isn't what someone means by "file manager" but then again it's not really clear what they mean be "file manager" at all. What is necessary and what isn't becomes a matter of taste. I use |pcmanfm| and it does what I need -- even if it isn't |explorer.exe| -- when I use it. And I use it when I'm trying not to expend to much effort forming a mental map of the tree layout.
But for me, one of the qualities of a great file manager is automating repetitive tasks and Bash (or whatever) do that really well, e.g. it needs to treat regular expressions as first class citizens.