Installing a Debian file browser

[sunrat]

apt list will show if it is installed eg. Dolphin FM on my Debian Buster KDE system:

Code:

$ apt list dolphin
Listing... Done
dolphin/oldstable,now 4:18.08.0-1 amd64 [installed]

However if you install a file manager from a desktop environment such as Nautilus from Gnome or Dolphin from KDE, it will also install a lot of those DE dependencies possibly a large proportion of that DE maybe a couple of GB.

You can try installing SpaceFM which would gave less dependencies, although if you have no graphical environment at all it will install a number of  extra packages anyway.

Code:

sudo apt install spacefm

You can simulate what the apt command proposes to do with the -s switch so you know what will be installed without actually installing it (sudo not needed for simulate):

Code:

apt install -s spacefm

[johne53]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Although Microsoft's WSL supposedly supports graphical apps now, it failed when installing either Nautilus or SpaceFM. So I tried Jostein's suggestion of the character-based browser (Midnight Commander) and that one installs and runs just fine. Top marks to Microsoft for at least trying to support Linux but if even a graphical browser can't be installed, it looks like WSL still has a bit of work to do... 

[sunrat]

it looks like WSL still has a bit of work to do... 

I always thought WSL was a silly idea. Virtual machines FTW.

[johne53]

Woohoo! I contacted Microsoft and they advised me to run apt upgrade prior to running apt update and voila!! I now have the Nautilus browser running here in Debian on Windows!!

   

[ForrestH]

apt update # refreshes the package list with current versions (e.g. when foo 1.2.1 has replaced 1.2.0)
apt upgrade # installs the current versions of already installed packages

[johne53]

Thanks @ForestH. Using apt this morning I even managed to install and run Ardour - though at this early stage, it looks like Linux apps aren't yet allowed to access the audio hardware. Hopefully that's on Microsoft's TODO list 

[johne53]

Here's a screenshot of my Sessions folder in Nautilus:-

   

Any idea how I'd bookmark this folder? I haven't used Nautilus much so I assumed I'd maybe drag the folder to where it says Starred but that doesn't seem to work.

[ForrestH]

help.gnome.org sez:
"Frequently-used folders can be added to the bookmark list for rapid access. To add the current folder to the bookmark list, press Ctrl+D or use the command Bookmarks ▸ Add Bookmark.
"To remove or rearrange bookmarks in a different order use the Bookmarks ▸ Edit Bookmarks command."

[johne53]

Thanks @ForrestH, Ctrl+D worked. Earlier I'd found various articles advising me to click on Bookmarks, or More or Bookmark Manager but where would I find them? Presumably there's normally a menu bar which isn't showing in my screenshot 

[ForrestH]

I expect you've discovered by now, but for the benefit of future readers, Gnome software often hides its menus behind a "burger button"...