Midnight Commander vs lf (file manager)

Struggling to choose between Midnight Commander and lf (file manager)? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Midnight Commander is a File Management solution with tags like file-manager, shell, unix, visual-interface.

It boasts features such as Two panel interface for easy file management, Built-in text editor and file viewer, Shell access from within the program, Navigation via keyboard shortcuts, Support for archives like tar and zip, Plugin system for extensibility, Available for Linux, BSD, and other Unix-like systems and pros including Lightweight and fast, Very efficient for power users, No mouse needed for navigation, Extensible via plugins, Cross-platform - works on many Unix systems.

On the other hand, lf (file manager) is a File Management product tagged with terminal, file-manager, lightweight, fast, customizable, userfriendly, go-language.

Its standout features include Native Go bindings for speed, Customizable colors and themes, File previews and thumbnails, Keyboard shortcuts and quick navigation, Plugins and extensibility via Lua, Tabs for managing multiple directories, Built-in text editor and file viewer, and it shines with pros like Very fast and lightweight, Highly customizable appearance, Powerful keyboard-driven workflow, Good for advanced terminal users, Extensible via plugins, Actively developed and maintained.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Midnight Commander

Midnight Commander

Midnight Commander is a visual file manager and shell for Unix-like systems. It allows you to easily manage files and folders, copy/move files, view file contents, and run shell commands. Useful for power users who want an efficient file manager.

Categories:
file-manager shell unix visual-interface

Midnight Commander Features

  1. Two panel interface for easy file management
  2. Built-in text editor and file viewer
  3. Shell access from within the program
  4. Navigation via keyboard shortcuts
  5. Support for archives like tar and zip
  6. Plugin system for extensibility
  7. Available for Linux, BSD, and other Unix-like systems

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Very efficient for power users

No mouse needed for navigation

Extensible via plugins

Cross-platform - works on many Unix systems

Cons

Steep learning curve

Not as intuitive as GUI file managers

Limited support for non-Unix systems


lf (file manager)

lf (file manager)

lf is a terminal file manager written in Go. It is lightweight, customizable, and aims to be fast and user-friendly. Some key features are native Go bindings, icons, previews, contextual color themes, plugins, and more.

Categories:
terminal file-manager lightweight fast customizable userfriendly go-language

Lf (file manager) Features

  1. Native Go bindings for speed
  2. Customizable colors and themes
  3. File previews and thumbnails
  4. Keyboard shortcuts and quick navigation
  5. Plugins and extensibility via Lua
  6. Tabs for managing multiple directories
  7. Built-in text editor and file viewer

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Very fast and lightweight

Highly customizable appearance

Powerful keyboard-driven workflow

Good for advanced terminal users

Extensible via plugins

Actively developed and maintained

Cons

Terminal only (no GUI version)

Steep learning curve for beginners

Limited built-in features compared to GUI file managers

Not many graphical file previews

Plugin ecosystem still developing