How to Install and Use Midnight Commander

In the realm of file management tools, Midnight Commander stands out amongst the pack. A visual file manager, where it's designed in the fashion of a text user interface. Its powerful features make it an essential tool for many system administrators and developers. In this guide, we will provide an in-depth focus on how to install and use Midnight Commander.

What is Midnight Commander?

Before diving into the installation process, it’s important to understand what Midnight Commander is. Simply put, Midnight Commander is a file manager for Unix-like operating systems. Its most notable feature is the two-panel design, which makes it easy for users to manage files and directories systematically.

Why Use Midnight Commander?

Now, you might be wondering - why should you worry about using Midnight Commander? Well, there are quite a few reasons to consider. First, it's amazingly versatile. You can use it to browse your files enterprise server to your home computer. Additionally, it supports FTP, thereby making it easier for you to manage files on an FTP server. This is just a small taste of what Midnight Commander can do.

Installation of Midnight Commander

Whether you're using Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS/RHEL, or Fedora, installing Midnight Commander is relatively straightforward. To install Midnight Commander on Ubuntu or Debian, use the following command:

sudo apt-get install mc

On CentOS/RHEL system, you will need to use this command:

yum install mc -y

For Fedora, use the following command:

dnf install mc

Remember to use sudo if you are not logged in as the root user.

Using Midnight Commander

After a successful installation, you can launch Midnight Commander by typing 'mc' in a command window. Here are few basic commands to get started:

1. Navigate between panels using the tab key.

2. Use arrow keys to navigate within a panel.

3. To open a directory or file, use the Enter key.

Selecting Files and Directories

With Midnight Commander, you can select multiple files or directories for an operation. To do this, navigate to the desired item with your arrow keys, then press the Insert key. This will highlight your chosen item and allow you to carry out various operations such as copy, move, or delete.

Concluding Thoughts

Whether you're a system administrator, a developer, or a Linux enthusiast, having a solid file management tool is crucial, and Midnight Commander definitely fits the bill. Its flexibility, customization options, and ease of use truly set it apart. By following the steps above, you should be well-equipped to install and utilize Midnight Commander effectively.