this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
-42 points (20.0% liked)
Linux
63876 readers
1148 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I'm a bit confused. I use Nautilus/GNOME Files, and I quite honestly can't think of anything it's missing that I want. Can you be more specific about this missing basic functionality? Or is it just non-Nautilus file managers?
If anything, I'm frustrated that Windows File Manager doesn't have all the features I use on Nautilus. Here's eight that just come to mind off the top of my head.
Yeahbutt the view you choose for a given folder does not persist from session to session. It used to.... Nowadays, I use pcmanfm as a nautilus alternative, which features this retro feature. Persistence is important to me. I guess I can't see why it isn't to you....
I really want an Android-style (grid-view, spatial paradigm, or whatever) application launcher, but all I can find are so-called semantic launchers, which follow a series of key strokes. Well, nuts to that! Unless I write one with considerable personal effort, I am still stuck with a plethora of file managers of various types (orthodox and navigational), many of which are forks of older packages that try to subvert trends in user-interface design toward touch-friendly devices.
Is the GNOME app grid not a grid-view application launcher?
It's pretty big to fit on one screen. It takes two MOUSE CLICKS to get to it. Is there a HOT KEY? Can you add icons for your own scripts? Gnome always had nautilus, but they wanted something completely different.
Yes, Super.
Yes, with .desktop files specifying the script and icon.
Fair enough about persistence, I can see why one might want it, but I genuinely haven't even thought about it in 10 years of use, and the overhead of one-click on occasion is pretty small. I probably click it less than once a month. So I can see why it's not implemented.
Interestingly it does persist other things like list sort order, so you'd have thought they'd offer the option. One wonders if they wouldn't happily accept a PR to add such a thing?
What is an android-style application launcher. You mean like as a default 'Open With' dialog? That feels like a niche want, but I mean fair enough to want it. Something like Junction not do it for you? Then just have file types you want to do that open via that instead.
Either way, it would be cool if Nautilus was extensible like GNOME shell. I don't deny this. I'm largely just confused by OPs claims.
... but it WAS implemented in nautilus before nautilus was dumbed down!
I mean the "App Switcher" for want of a better term. Generally, you swipe up to get to it. I think it used to be called the "App Grid" or "App Tray" when there was a middle physical button (or emulated target) for it. These days, I use Nova Launcher because (Guess what!) I wanted to add icons for my own scripts and a few O/S entry points that aren't strictly apps on their own. ... so my involvement with Gnome and Android launchers is a little out of date. I've moved on.