📚 Reference

ℹ️ About

Midnight Commander (often abbreviated as mc) is a free, open-source, text-based file manager for Unix-like operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and BSD. Inspired by the classic Norton Commander for DOS, it provides a user-friendly, keyboard-driven interface for managing files and directories in terminal environments. Here's a detailed overview:

Basic Usage

Launch by typing mc in the terminal.
Navigate using arrow keys, Tab (to switch panes), and function keys (see below).
Exit with F10.

👩‍⚖️ Rules

Installation

Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install mc
Red Hat/Fedora: sudo dnf install mc or sudo yum install mc
macOS: Install via Homebrew: brew install mc

❓Questions

How to bookmark a directory?

Ctrol + \ to open Directory Hotlist
a to Add current directory
Bookmarks are saved ed ~/.config/mc/hotlist

🎛️ Features

Key Features

Two-Pane Interface: Split-screen layout displaying two directories side-by-side, simplifying file operations like copying or moving between locations.
Built-in Tools:
- File Viewer/Editor: View files (F3) or edit them (F4) with an integrated editor.
- Archive Handling: Browse and manipulate tar, zip, rpm, and other archives as if they were directories.
- FTP/SFTP Support: Connect to remote servers directly within the interface.
- Search: Find files by name or content.
Customization: Configurable keyboard shortcuts, color themes, and extensibility via macros or custom commands.
- Low Resource Usage: Ideal for servers or systems without a graphical interface.

👍 Benefits

Cross-Platform: Works on most Unix-like systems.
Lightweight: Minimal system resource usage.
Versatility: Combines file management, archiving, and remote connectivity in one tool.

💼 Use Cases

File Operations: Supports copy, move, delete, rename, create directories, edit file permissions, and symlink creation.

Use Cases

Server Management: Manage files on headless servers without a GUI.
Efficiency: Keyboard-centric workflow for users who prefer speed over mouse navigation.
Remote File Access: Transfer files via FTP/SFTP directly from the interface.

Midnight Commander remains popular for its simplicity and power, especially in environments where graphical tools are unavailable or impractical.

🌐 Resources

#file-manager #CLI