Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Broot VS Double Commander

Compare Broot VS Double Commander and see what are their differences

Broot logo Broot

Commandline app to simplify directory navigation.

Double Commander logo Double Commander

Double Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side.
  • Broot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • Double Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

Broot features and specs

  • Interactive Interface
    Broot provides an intuitive and interactive text-based interface, making it easier for users to navigate directories and manage files visually within the terminal.
  • Speed and Efficiency
    Designed to be fast and efficient, Broot helps users quickly locate files and directories, even in large and complex directory structures.
  • Search and Filter Capabilities
    Users can perform refined searches and apply filters to narrow down file viewing, which is particularly useful when dealing with expansive file systems.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Broot is available on multiple platforms including Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it accessible to a wide range of users across different environments.
  • Customization and Extensibility
    Broot supports various configurations and the ability to integrate with other tools, allowing users to tailor it to their specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of Broot

  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a steep learning curve to understand all the functionalities and commands to use Broot effectively.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is documentation available, some users might find it insufficient for understanding advanced features and integrations.
  • Terminal-Only
    As a terminal-based tool, it doesn't provide a graphical user interface which might be a downside for users preferring GUI-based file managers.
  • Dependency on Rust
    Since Broot is built with Rust, users must install Rust or its dependencies which could be a barrier for those not already utilizing Rust environments.
  • Partial Shell Integration
    Although it offers shell integration, there might be limitations in seamlessness or functionality, compared to traditional shell commands.

Double Commander features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    Double Commander is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This makes it a versatile choice for users operating across different platforms.
  • Free and Open Source
    Double Commander is free to download and its source code is open to the public. Users can modify and redistribute it under the GPL license, making it a cost-effective and customizable option.
  • Two-Panel Interface
    The application features a two-panel interface, which allows users to view and manage files in two distinct directories simultaneously. This enhances productivity and streamlines file operations.
  • Plugin Support
    Double Commander supports Total Commander WCX, WDX, and WLX plugins, providing additional functionalities such as extended file operations and viewing capabilities.
  • FTP/SFTP Support
    It includes built-in support for FTP and SFTP protocols, allowing users to easily manage files on remote servers.
  • Customizable User Interface
    Users can customize the layout, colors, and various other aspects of the interface to suit their individual preferences.
  • Advanced Search Function
    Double Commander offers an advanced search feature with various filters, allowing users to find files quickly and efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Double Commander

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    The two-panel interface and multitude of features may be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Occasional Bugs and Instability
    As an open-source project, Double Commander may occasionally suffer from bugs and stability issues, though these are often addressed by the community.
  • Less Polished UI
    The user interface, while customizable, may not be as polished or modern-looking as some commercial file managers.
  • Limited Integration
    Compared to some commercial options, Double Commander may offer limited integration with other applications and services out of the box.

Analysis of Double Commander

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Double Commander is a well-regarded file manager that can significantly improve file organization and management tasks, especially for users who prefer a Total Commander-like experience on Linux, Windows, or macOS.

Why this product is good

  • Double Commander is considered good due to its open-source nature, cross-platform support, and feature-rich environment. It offers a dual-pane interface, which enhances productivity by allowing users to easily manage files across different directories. Features such as tabbed browsing, an advanced search function, and the built-in file viewer/editor support diverse file formats, making it a versatile tool. Many users appreciate its customization options and support for WCX, WDX, and WLX plug-ins.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free, open-source alternative to Total Commander.
  • Those who frequently work with multiple files and directories and require efficient file management.
  • Users who prefer cross-platform tools that offer consistency across operating systems.
  • Individuals who appreciate customization and support for plug-ins to extend functionality.

Broot videos

Broot: An Innovative Way To View Your Linux File System

More videos:

Double Commander videos

Check Out Double Commander File Manager In Ubuntu 16.04

More videos:

  • Review - Context menu suggestion for Double Commander

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Broot and Double Commander)
FTP Client
13 13%
87% 87
File Manager
9 9%
91% 91
Robo-Advisor
100 100%
0% 0
File Explorer
8 8%
92% 92

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Broot and Double Commander

Broot Reviews

We have no reviews of Broot yet.
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Double Commander Reviews

3 Popular Total Commander Analogs for Linux
Double Commander is one of the most popular file managers for Linux. It is open source and available for other operating systems. It is capable of viewing files in binary, hexadecimal and text formats. The developers have provided a text editor with syntax highlighting. The application works with archives and supports batch renaming.
Source: medium.com
The best file managers for your computer
This is a completely free code file manager, endowed with numerous functions that make it one of the preferred by users from all over the world. Double commander is unashamedly inspired by Total Commander.
Source: movilforum.com
8 Best Total Commander Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid)
Double commander is a free cross platform open source file manager with two panels side by side. It is inspired by total commander.

Social recommendations and mentions

Double Commander might be a bit more popular than Broot. We know about 22 links to it since March 2021 and only 15 links to Broot. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Broot mentions (15)

  • Show HN
    Well done! Reminds me of broot (https://dystroy.org/broot/). - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Superfile – A fancy, petty terminal file manager
    I personally use broot[1] to achieve something similar. I’ve you open two panes, you can copy or move items between them. I also sometimes use it as a pseudo IDE. [1]: https://dystroy.org/broot. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Exa Is Deprecated
    Https://dystroy.org/broot/ You can use it just like the original tree tool too: https://dystroy.org/broot/tricks/#replace-tree (disclaimer: broot author). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • What’s everyone working on this week (1/2023)?
    I'll add the long awaited support for nushell in broot. Source: over 2 years ago
  • A list of new(ish) command line tools – Julia Evans
    Broot has many features that feel natural... When you know they exist (for example, try looking for what's taking space with `br -w` then stage the files and remove them at the end). I suggest everyone to have at least a short glance at the introduction at https://dystroy.org/broot/. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
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Double Commander mentions (22)

  • File Pilot: A file explorer built for speed with a modern, robust interface
    3. The rich infrastructure of viewers, add-ons that has been added by the community over decades and is supported by the open source alternative implementation https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ Any roadmap that has some of this on the list? Thanks for the cool work! - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • OpenBSD Desktop
    Take a look at double commander: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ However, if you use a desktop manager such as Xfce, the file manager (Thunar in this case) is built in and can be configured with traditional double window arrangement. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • The case of the jump into the middle of an instruction from nowhere (2023)
    Well yeah, I mean no one forces you to use Explorer for file management under Windows. I'm an old-time Norton Commander user, and when Windows came around I switched to Total Commander. There are open-source alternatives too, even cross-platform ones, like this one: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/. That being said, no one forces you to use Windows either - except maybe your employer or the software... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Creating a 'Proper Nouns' List
    Double Commander. Search Replace Multiple files. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Total Commander
    I've been looking for a Linux alternative ever since I mostly switched away from Windows a few years ago, and so far this one is the best FOSS alternative I found: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ - it's even written in Pascal, same as TC. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Broot and Double Commander, you can also consider the following products

lf (file manager) - Terminal file manager written in Go (programming language).

Total Commander - A Shareware file manager for Windows® 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, and Windows® 3.1.

nnn - Fast and resource-sensitive file manager for the terminal

Midnight Commander - GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and...

Vifm - Vifm is a ncurses based file manager with vi like keybindings.

FreeCommander - FreeCommander is an easy-to-use alternative to the standard windows file manager. The program helps you with daily work in Windows. Here you can find all the necessary functions to manage your data stock.