Software Alternatives & Startups

Thunar VS CloudShell

Compare Thunar VS CloudShell 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.

Thunar logo Thunar

Thunar is a modern file manager for the Xfce Desktop Environment.

CloudShell logo CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.
  • Thunar Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-25
  • CloudShell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Thunar features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Thunar is a file manager designed to be fast and low on system resource usage, making it suitable for older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Simple Interface
    Thunar offers a clean and straightforward user interface, which makes it easy for users to navigate and manage files without a steep learning curve.
  • Extensible
    Thunar supports plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality with additional features like bulk renaming or adding custom actions.
  • Integration with Xfce
    Thunar is the default file manager for the Xfce desktop environment, ensuring tight integration and consistent behavior across the desktop.
  • Custom Actions
    Users can configure custom actions that appear in the context menu, providing a level of personalization and flexibility in daily file management tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Thunar

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other file managers, Thunar lacks some advanced features like integrated terminal panels or advanced search capabilities.
  • Slower Development
    Thunar's development cycle can be slower compared to other file managers, which might result in delays in new features and bug fixes.
  • Less Customizable
    While Thunar does offer some level of customization, it is not as customizable as some other file managers that allow more extensive interface and functionality tweaks.
  • Dependent on Xfce Components
    Thunar relies on various Xfce components, which might lead to dependencies that are less desirable if you are not using Xfce as your desktop environment.
  • Limited Network Browsing
    Thunar’s capabilities for network browsing and managing remote files are not as robust as some other file managers, which may be a limitation for certain users.

CloudShell features and specs

  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudShell

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.

Analysis of CloudShell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

Thunar videos

Showing Thunar file browsers preferences

More videos:

  • Review - Comparing File Managers - Nautilus Versus Thunar Versus Nemo
  • Review - Add Custom Actions to Thunar File Manager

CloudShell videos

No CloudShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Thunar and CloudShell)
FTP Client
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
File Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CloudShell should be more popular than Thunar. It has been mentiond 13 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.

Thunar mentions (4)

CloudShell mentions (13)

  • GCP Fundamentals: Cloud Shell API
    The Google Cloud Shell API empowers organizations to automate cloud operations, accelerate software delivery, and improve efficiency. By providing a programmatic interface for managing Cloud Shell environments, the API unlocks new possibilities for developers, SREs, and data teams. Explore the official documentation and try the hands-on lab to experience the benefits of the Cloud Shell API firsthand. ... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue this command to enable the API: gcloud services enable youtube.googleapis.com Confirm all the APIs you've enabled with this command:... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud command-line tool [CLI]) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue the following command to enable all three APIs: gcloud services enable geocoding-backend.googleapis.com... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Getting started with the Google Cloud CLI interactive shell for serverless developers
    While you might find that using the Google Cloud online console or Cloud Shell environment meets your occasional needs, for maximum developer efficiency you will want to install the Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) on your own system where you already have your favorite editor or IDE and git set up. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Cloud desktops aren't as good as you'd think
    Here is the product https://cloud.google.com/shell It has a quick start guide and docs. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Thunar and CloudShell, you can also consider the following products

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

GitHub Codespaces - GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

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

CodeTasty - CodeTasty is a programming platform for developers in the cloud.

Nemo - Nemo is the official file manager for the ...

Glitch - Glitch is the friendly community where everyone builds the web. Simple, powerful interface for creating web apps.