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Midnight Commander VS Android Debug Bridge

Compare Midnight Commander VS Android Debug Bridge and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Midnight Commander logo Midnight Commander

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

Android Debug Bridge logo Android Debug Bridge

Find out about the Android Debug Bridge, a versatile command-line tool that lets you communicate with a device.
  • Midnight Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Android Debug Bridge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-01

Midnight Commander features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Midnight Commander provides a text-based user interface that is relatively easy to navigate, unlike traditional command-line interfaces, which can be intimidating for new users.
  • Two-pane File Manager
    The dual-pane layout allows users to perform file operations such as moving and copying files between two locations effortlessly.
  • Built-in Editor
    Midnight Commander includes a built-in text editor (mcedit) that can be handy for quickly editing configuration files or scripts.
  • Connectivity Options
    It supports various network protocols like FTP, SFTP, and Samba, enabling users to manage files on remote systems as easily as on local drives.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize key bindings, color schemes, and panels to better suit their needs and workflow preferences.
  • Cross-Platform
    Midnight Commander is available on multiple operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows, offering a consistent experience across platforms.
  • Search Capabilities
    Advanced search options make it easy to find files and text within files, which is useful for a variety of tasks, from coding to administration.

Possible disadvantages of Midnight Commander

  • Limited GUI Features
    Being a text-based application, it lacks some of the graphical features and mouse interactions available in graphical file managers.
  • Learning Curve
    While more user-friendly than the command line, it still requires some time to learn and get accustomed to the various key bindings and functionalities.
  • Dependency on Terminal
    As a terminal-based application, it requires a terminal emulator, which might not be as efficient or convenient as using a native graphical application for some users.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    For complex file management tasks, it may not offer the advanced features or plugins available in more robust file managers.
  • No Built-in Preview
    Unlike some graphical file managers, it doesn't provide a built-in preview of files (like images or PDFs), which can be a drawback for certain use cases.
  • Dependency on Configuration Files
    Customization often necessitates editing configuration files manually, which could be a deterrent for users who are not comfortable with text-based configurations.

Android Debug Bridge features and specs

  • Versatile Command-line Tool
    ADB provides a comprehensive set of commands that allow developers to perform a wide range of tasks, from installing and debugging apps to accessing Unix shell for direct communication with Android devices.
  • Device Management
    ADB enables developers to manage multiple Android devices connected to a single system, making it easy to test applications across different device models and OS versions.
  • Remote Access
    Developers can use ADB to access devices remotely, which is particularly useful for debugging and managing devices that are not physically accessible.
  • File Transfer
    ADB allows seamless file transfer between a computer and connected Android devices, facilitating easy content management and data backup.

Possible disadvantages of Android Debug Bridge

  • Complex Command Syntax
    The command-line nature of ADB can be daunting for beginners, as it requires knowledge of specific command syntax and parameters.
  • Security Risks
    ADB can pose security risks if USB debugging is left enabled on a device, as it could allow unauthorized access if the device is not properly safeguarded.
  • Dependency on Platform Tools
    ADB is a part of the Android SDK Platform Tools, meaning developers must install and maintain these tools, which can add overhead to the development setup.
  • Limited GUI Support
    ADB primarily operates via a terminal/command-line interface, offering limited graphical user interface support, which may not be intuitive for all users.

Midnight Commander videos

EzeeLinux Show 18.15 | GNU Midnight Commander

More videos:

  • Review - 16 - Midnight Commander, Part 1 of 3
  • Review - Midnight Commander || Installation and short review || Ubuntu || Fedora

Android Debug Bridge videos

How to Install and fully Set up ADB (Android Debug Bridge) - Step-by-step Guide

More videos:

  • Review - Android Debug Bridge (ADB) [Android Bits #6]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Midnight Commander and Android Debug Bridge)
File Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100
FTP Client
100 100%
0% 0
IT Automation
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Midnight Commander and Android Debug Bridge. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Android Debug Bridge might be a bit more popular than Midnight Commander. We know about 38 links to it since March 2021 and only 28 links to Midnight Commander. 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.

Midnight Commander mentions (28)

  • Emacs 2024 Changes
    Dired as a cross-platform file manager. I used to use Midnight Commander but I found it buggy in the end (on MacOS). Since investing time in learning dired it's good enough. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • OpenBSD Desktop
    Midnight Commander is a good TUI file manager. https://midnight-commander.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Antonmedv/walk: Terminal file manager
    Was there something before https://midnight-commander.org/ or was that the OG? - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • How to move a directory to ../ if there is a directory with same name?
    Just use mc (midnight commander) it not only is a terminal based file manager but it will give you the command lines used to do so GNU MIDNIGHT COMMANDER. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What's that email client doing here?
    Given that you can run shells in Emacs since those are text too, Emacs ends up becoming almost like a Lisp-powered tmux or mc. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Android Debug Bridge mentions (38)

  • Mobile Security Tools part 3: Objection
    If you are new to adb, I recommend you to first read what it is. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Code Against the Clock: Automating the youtube shorts creation
    I chose to work with ADB and found a Python library ppadb that helps interact with it. I came up with an algorithm that would guide my script's logic:. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • ADB tips and tricks: Commands that every power user should know about (2023)
    "Android Debug Bridge (adb)": https://developer.android.com/tools/adb (developer.android.com/tools/adb) "Smartphone-1 to Smartphone-2: "adb tcpip 5555" using a Linux server, android-tools, Termux, termux-usb, usbredirect, and QEMU": https://gist.github.com/NoteAfterNote/ee883d5fd86c3b8ef0b0b84cac47b4d6 (gist.github.com/NoteAfterNote/ee883d5fd86c3b8ef0b0b84cac47b4d6). - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Running adb in a rootless Podman Distrobox container
    Adb stands for Android Debug Bridge. It's a part of SDK Platform Tools, which is bundled with Android Studio. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • LocalSend: Open-source, cross-platform file sharing to nearby devices
    Https://developer.android.com/tools/adb#connect-to-a-device-over-wi-fi # Subsequent usage (does not require USB cable): 5. Toggle the Wireless Debugging quick setting toggle to enable adb connections from your computer to your phone 6. Retrieve the Android device's IP address in Settings → About → Status. 7. On the computer command line type: adb connect ip-address-of-device:5555 8. Push the folder to the Android... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Midnight Commander and Android Debug Bridge, you can also consider the following products

Double Commander - Double Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side.

Heimdall - Heimdall is a cross-platform open-source tool suite used to flash firmware (aka ROMs) onto Samsung...

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

ADB AppControl - ADB AppControl - a new and handy desktop program, that will allow you to easily manage applications on your android device. You can disable unwanted pre-installed system apps and bloatware, or install new ones using a modern graphical interface.

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.

Tango ADB - Android tools in the browser.