this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I’d love a setting to change the default file manager. I always install Nemo and configure it to be the default but last I checked, it’s not a simple GUI setting like changing the default browser or email client or whatever. And then you end up with two programs called “Files,” which obviously isn’t ideal.

Would it be that much of a problem to have what app is “Files” be a simple setting? Maybe it’s way more complicated than one assumes.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

My dream is that one day we will be able to assign default applications to the “generic” names in Gnome. Launch “Browser” and open Firefox (or chrome 🤢), Files and open Dolphin, Messages and open Elements etc etc.

Obviously I can do the same with custom .desktop files but it would be a nice flair to use the settings to just assign applications to those generic names.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can set the default app in the settings though, right?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes and no. The setting affects the file manager, but things like "open/save file" dialogues will still use the Gnome file chooser, which is separate from Nautilus and not easily circumvented.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe they added this when I wasn’t looking. It’s been awhile since I did a fresh install of a Gnome distro. (I use Fedora for work stuff and I’ve learned over the years to leave my work laptop the fuck alone and distro hop on a personal laptop.)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's still a problem. And then once I finally set thunar as default, Firefox continues to open Nautilus. Removing Nautilus isn't an option either since it's a dependencie of something else.

I really hope choosing a default file manager woll be simple and always working at some point.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

On my kids' pcs the default file manager is nemo and they use gnome, so it is possible

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most DEs do include the file manager in the default applications menu. You can also use xdg-mime to set it as the default for inode/directory

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Until some app doesn't care about xdg-mime. At least I had some issues with firefox a while ago.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Firefox uses xdg-mime or xdg portals, depending on the configuration of the package. If you are using it as a flatpak, it will use portals.

Apps using portals will use the file picker your portal provides. This will usually be either the GNOME or Plasma file picker. Note that this file picker is separate from your default file manager.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It wasn't about the file picker but the file manager that opens after clicking the button to open the folder a downloaded file is saved in. It was indeed flatpak firefox iirc.

It did work at some point but broke again... At the moment it works I believe (at least I didn't get a call from my mom about the file manager being wrong again).