Shiftit VS Midnight Commander

• Open Source
  ShiftIt is an open-source project, meaning that it is free to use and its source code is publicly available for review and modification. This allows users to customize the application to their needs and contributes to a larger community of developers and users.
• Window Management
  ShiftIt provides powerful window management capabilities, enabling users to easily resize, move, and rearrange windows using keyboard shortcuts. This enhances productivity and helps maintain an organized workspace.
• Lightweight
  ShiftIt is a lightweight application that does not consume significant system resources, making it a good choice for users who need efficient window management without sacrificing performance.
• Customizable Shortcuts
  Users have the flexibility to customize keyboard shortcuts to their preferences, allowing for a more personalized and efficient window management experience.
• Consistent Updates
  Being a maintained open-source project, ShiftIt receives consistent updates and improvements from the community, ensuring enhanced features and bug fixes over time.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited to macOS
  ShiftIt is only available for macOS, which limits its usability to users of Apple's operating system and excludes users on other platforms such as Windows and Linux.
• Potential Bugs
  As with many open-source projects, bugs and issues may surface occasionally. Though the community actively works on improvements, users might encounter stability issues or unexpected behavior.
• Dependency on System Preferences
  ShiftIt requires accessibility permissions to function correctly, which may be cumbersome for some users to set up initially. Certain macOS updates may also affect these permissions, requiring users to reconfigure the application.
• Lack of Advanced Features
  Compared to some commercial window management solutions, ShiftIt may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might require.
• User Interface
  ShiftIt does not have a polished graphical user interface, which might not appeal to users who prefer a more visually refined application. Most configuration and usage are done through menus and keyboard shortcuts.

• 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

• 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.

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EzeeLinux Show 18.15 | GNU Midnight Commander

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Tracking Shiftit since Mar 2021.

• 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 / almost 2 years ago

• OpenBSD Desktop

  Midnight Commander is a good TUI file manager. https://midnight-commander.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

• Antonmedv/walk: Terminal file manager

  Was there something before https://midnight-commander.org/ or was that the OG? - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago

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