Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Midnight Commander VS SpaceSniffer

Compare Midnight Commander VS SpaceSniffer and see what are their differences

Midnight Commander logo Midnight Commander

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

SpaceSniffer logo SpaceSniffer

SpaceSniffer is a freeWare (donations are welcome) and portable tool application that lets you understand how folders and files are structured on your disks.
  • Midnight Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • SpaceSniffer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

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.

SpaceSniffer features and specs

  • Visual Representation
    SpaceSniffer provides a graphical view of disk usage through treemaps, making it easy to identify large files and folders.
  • Freeware
    The software is available for free, making it accessible to a wide range of users without any cost.
  • Portability
    SpaceSniffer is portable and does not require installation, allowing it to be run from a USB drive on different computers.
  • Customizable Filters
    Users can apply filters to focus on specific file types, sizes, or attributes, which helps in detailed analysis of disk usage.
  • Real-time Update
    The tool updates in real-time as the disk content changes, ensuring that the visual data remains current and relevant.

Possible disadvantages of SpaceSniffer

  • Windows Only
    SpaceSniffer is only available for Windows, limiting its usability for Mac and Linux users.
  • No File Management
    While it provides good visualization, the tool does not offer advanced file management features like moving or deleting files directly within the interface.
  • Resource Intensive
    Large scans can consume significant system resources, potentially slowing down the computer during use.
  • No Scheduled Scans
    SpaceSniffer does not have options for scheduling scans or automated reports, which may be a drawback for users looking for regular monitoring.
  • Limited Support and Updates
    As a freeware product, it may not receive frequent updates or direct support, which could be a concern for long-term reliability.

Analysis of Midnight Commander

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Midnight Commander is considered a good tool by many users, especially those who frequently work in command-line environments. Its efficiency and robustness make it a favorite among system administrators and developers.

Why this product is good

  • Midnight Commander is a popular and powerful file manager for Unix-like systems. It features a text user interface, making it suitable for command-line environments. It provides all essential file management functionalities, including copying, moving, renaming, and even supports accessing and browsing through FTP or SSH, making it versatile for various tasks.

Recommended for

    Midnight Commander is highly recommended for users who are comfortable working in command-line environments. It is particularly suitable for system administrators, developers, and power users who need a reliable and efficient file management tool with advanced features like remote file system browsing.

Analysis of SpaceSniffer

Overall verdict

  • SpaceSniffer is generally considered a good tool for anyone who needs to quickly understand their disk usage patterns and free up space. Its visual approach is intuitive, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users.

Why this product is good

  • SpaceSniffer is a free disk space analysis tool for Windows. It uses a visually engaging, Treemap-style layout to help users identify large files and folders, making it easier to manage disk space efficiently. The program is lightweight and portable, which means it doesn't require installation and can be run from external drives.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free disk space analysis tool
  • Windows users who want a portable and lightweight solution
  • Individuals who prefer a visual representation of their data
  • Anyone needing to manage and optimize storage space efficiently

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

SpaceSniffer videos

Visualize and free up disk space with SpaceSniffer

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Midnight Commander and SpaceSniffer)
File Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Disk Analyzer
0 0%
100% 100
FTP Client
100 100%
0% 0
Hard Disk Usage
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Midnight Commander and SpaceSniffer. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Midnight Commander seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 28 times since March 2021. 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 / 5 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 / almost 2 years 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: about 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

SpaceSniffer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SpaceSniffer yet. Tracking of SpaceSniffer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Midnight Commander and SpaceSniffer, 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.

WinDirStat - WinDirStat is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool, inspired by KDirStat.

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

WizTree - WizTree quickly finds the files and folders using the most space on your hard drive. It scans the MFT (Master File Table) instead of crawling the entire disk which makes it very fast.

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.

TreeSize - TreeSize tells you where precious disk space has gone to.