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Tux Commander VS Midnight Commander

Compare Tux Commander VS Midnight Commander and see what are their differences

Tux Commander logo Tux Commander

Tux Commander Homepage, an opensource GTK2 file manager

Midnight Commander logo Midnight Commander

GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and...
  • Tux Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-28
  • Midnight Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

Tux Commander features and specs

  • Open Source
    Tux Commander is free to use and modify, allowing users access to its source code, which promotes transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Dual Panel Interface
    It features a dual-panel interface that enhances file management efficiency by allowing users to view and manage files from two folders simultaneously.
  • Plugin Support
    Its architecture supports plugins which extend its functionality, making it adaptable to different user needs.
  • Lightweight
    Tux Commander is a lightweight application that consumes minimal system resources, making it suitable for use on less powerful hardware.
  • Familiar GUI
    The graphical user interface is intuitive and similar to other file managers, reducing the learning curve for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Tux Commander

  • Limited Development
    The software has seen slower development progress in recent years, which may lead to issues with compatibility with newer systems or lack of new features.
  • Linux Exclusive
    Tux Commander is designed specifically for Linux, limiting its availability and usefulness on other operating systems like Windows or macOS.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to some modern file managers, it lacks advanced features such as integrated cloud storage support and advanced search functionalities.
  • Potentially Outdated Interface
    Its user interface may feel dated compared to more modern file management solutions, which could affect user experience.

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.

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.

Tux Commander videos

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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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tux Commander and Midnight Commander)
FTP Client
7 7%
93% 93
File Manager
7 7%
93% 93
File Explorer
7 7%
93% 93
File Management
11 11%
89% 89

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Midnight Commander seems to be a lot more popular than Tux Commander. While we know about 28 links to Midnight Commander, we've tracked only 1 mention of Tux 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.

Tux Commander mentions (1)

  • One Commander – a new Windows 10 file browser
    If you want OSS alternatives for Linux, here are some. A few may look old and unpolished, but today pretty much every desktop environment comes with its own file manager. https://www.4pane.co.uk/ https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ https://ignorantguru.github.io/spacefm/ http://tuxcmd.sourceforge.net/ http://www.boomerangsworld.de/cms/worker/ http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

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 / 6 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
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tux Commander and Midnight Commander, you can also consider the following products

FTP Synchronizer - Secure and high performance FTP File Sync product

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

GNOME Commander - GNOME Commander is a "two-pane" graphical file manager for the GNOME desktop environment.

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

Polo File Manager - Software for Linux

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.