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Midnight Commander
What it is
Midnight Commander is a free, full-screen text-mode file manager with a dual-pane layout. It lets users copy, move, and delete files or directory trees, search for files, and run commands in a subshell. An internal viewer, editor, and diff viewer handle inspection and editing within the program. Midnight Commander runs in regular consoles and X Window terminals, and works over SSH and in remote shells. Its virtual filesystem supports FTP and shell connections; SFTP requires compilation with sftpfs. A tar filesystem provides read-only access to tar and compressed tar archives, while scripts can add virtual-filesystem features and file types. Users can apply supplied or self-created skins. The project is released under the GNU General Public License and supports Linux and macOS. Installation options include major system package managers. Official help centers on context-sensitive F1 guidance and manual pages, with community communication through mailing lists, GitHub Discussions, and an issue tracker.
For and against
For
- Dual-pane text interface
- Built-in viewer, editor, and diff tool
- SSH and remote-shell access
- FTP and shell virtual filesystems
- Free GPL software
Against
- SFTP depends on sftpfs compilation
- Tar filesystem is read-only
- No commercial support or warranty
The verdict
Midnight Commander combines file operations, viewing, editing, comparisons, and remote access in a console interface. Its volunteer-maintained project model suits users comfortable with community documentation and support.
Who it suits
It suits Linux and macOS users who prefer keyboard-driven, terminal-based file management. It is also useful for remote-shell and archive work.
Plans and prices
GNU Midnight Commander
GNU General Public License · free software
Read 7 Oct 2026 · midnight-commander.org
On the record
- Archives
- Its tar filesystem provides read-only access to tar and compressed tar archives.source.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Archive support
- Yesmidnight-commander.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Batch rename
- Yesmidnight-commander.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Built-in tools
- It includes an internal file viewer, editor, and diff viewer.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The project identifies context-sensitive F1 help and manual pages as its primary official documentation.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Dual-pane layout
- Yesmidnight-commander.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Extensibility
- An external virtual filesystem can add features and file types through scripts.source.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- File manager
- Midnight Commander is a visual, dual-pane, full-screen text-mode file manager.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- File operations
- It can copy, move, and delete files and directory trees, search for files, and execute commands in a subshell.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project recommends system package managers and lists Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora/Red Hat, FreeBSD/OpenBSD, and macOS installation options.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The project says it is released under the GNU General Public License and qualifies as Free Software.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Project history
- The maintainers page says the project was founded around 1994 by Miguel de Icaza and is maintained by a team.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Remote filesystems
- Its virtual filesystem supports FTP and shell connections, and supports SFTP when compiled with sftpfs.source.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Project communication is primarily through mailing lists, with GitHub Discussions and an issue tracker also available.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support limits
- The project says volunteer maintainers do not provide an entitlement to commercial-grade support, service-level agreements, or warranties.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Terminal access
- It works in a regular console, an X Window terminal, over SSH, and in remote shells.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Themes
- Midnight Commander supports skins included with the distribution or created by users.midnight-commander.org · read 7 Oct 2026
