Nautilus Elementary: Easy File Management on Linux
Nautilus Elementary: A Simplified File Manager for Gnome
The standard file manager, Nautilus, found in Gnome-based Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora, has often been criticized for its visual appeal and user experience. Its interface can sometimes feel cluttered and unintuitive.
While both Windows and macOS have seen significant improvements to their respective file browsers – with Windows recently undergoing a simplification process and macOS Finder receiving continuous refinement – Nautilus has remained largely unchanged since 2006.
Extending Nautilus Functionality
Customization of Nautilus is typically achieved through the use of plugins. Previously, Varun detailed several methods for incorporating custom features into Nautilus.
Furthermore, Damien explored six beneficial extensions designed to enhance Nautilus’s overall functionality.
Addressing Interface Complexity
However, simply adding extensions doesn't always resolve the core issue of interface complexity. Recognizing this, a team of developers has initiated a project to directly address the need for a more streamlined Nautilus experience.
This project, known as Nautilus Elementary, focuses on significantly simplifying the Linux file browser's interface while maintaining its operational stability.
The goal is to provide a cleaner, more user-friendly file management experience for Gnome users.
Enhancements to Nautilus
The primary improvements center around the user interface. Consider the previous iteration of Nautilus:
Now, observe Nautilus Elementary:
While the typeface modification is my personal preference – specifically, the Droid font – all other alterations are attributable to the Elementary project. The previously cluttered left-hand panel, which contained a seemingly arbitrary collection of folder shortcuts, has been eliminated.
It has been replaced by a panel with a more rational organization, categorizing shortcuts into three distinct folders: Personal, Devices, and Network.
This structure may seem familiar to users of macOS. The organizational approach closely mirrors that of Finder in OSX.
This is not inherently negative, as Finder is a notably user-friendly file browser. Aligning the Nautilus Linux file browser more closely with Finder’s functionality is a sensible design choice.
However, beneath these interface adjustments, the core functionality of Nautilus remains unchanged, and it is still a powerful file browser. It simply benefited from a streamlining of its interface.
Further Refinements
Additional updates have been implemented. The stop and refresh buttons in the top panel have been consolidated, and several redundant buttons have been removed.
Furthermore, the traditional "view" dialogue has been superseded by three icons representing different file viewing modes.
In conclusion, these combined changes result in a significantly more enjoyable user experience with Nautilus.
Ready for Installation?
Are you impressed with the visual examples? Let’s proceed with the installation process.
Implementing Nautilus Elementary on Ubuntu necessitates utilizing the command line, however, the process is straightforward. Launch the Terminal application (navigate through "Applications," then "Accessories," and finally select "Terminal") and input the following commands sequentially:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:am-monkeyd/nautilus-elementary-ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
The initial command integrates the Nautilus Elementary repository into your system. Subsequently, the package information is refreshed, and then the system is updated with this new data. Consequently, Elementary is installed, but the previous Nautilus instance remains active. To terminate this, simply enter
killall nautilus
within your active command prompt. This action will relaunch your file manager, presenting you with the updated Nautilus Elementary interface. Should it not appear instantly, accessing a folder via the "Places" menu will initiate its launch.
For users of Linux distributions other than Ubuntu, like Fedora, a pre-built package is currently unavailable. This is understandable, given the project’s focus on Ubuntu. However, this offers little consolation to Fedora users desiring this Nautilus version. If anyone knows of packages for Fedora or other Linux distributions, please share the information in the comments section below!
Final Thoughts
The Nautilus development team should prioritize integrating these improvements into the main branch. These valuable enhancements significantly refine the file browser experience, and their adoption as standard functionality is highly recommended.
A streamlined interface invariably improves usability, bringing us closer to resolving longstanding Bug #1.
Despite not being the default option, I will continue to utilize Elementary for my daily workflow. What are your plans? Will you opt to install Elementary, or remain with the current default settings?
Furthermore, I'm interested in your perspectives on the visual changes. Do you find them aesthetically pleasing, or is my assessment subjective?
Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!
