this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2024

34 points (82.7% liked)

Linux

47994 readers

1811 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Where? Is? Quick Look!? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

By far, the feature I most sorely miss in Linux compared to macOS is Quick Look. Press the space bar, see file contents. Use the arrow keys, view different files. Simple, quick, and WAY faster than opening an entire app every single time I want to check the contents of a file. I also miss the column view in conjunction with arrow keys (I’m VERY keyboard-centric, I liked being able to navigate everything with only a keyboard), but that’s less important, and probably has an easy analogue.

Most of the discussions about this that I found are older than I am (hyperbole), and I found a bunch of dead projects last updated years ago. I also found that GNOME apparently has a feature like Quick Look, but that would involve using GNOME.

I’m running Debian 12 with Plasma 5 (Does Plasma 6 have anything?) Is there any way to restore this functionality? I intend for this to be more of a master thread that anyone can visit to get help on the matter, as I’m sure I’m not the only Linux user who loves Quick Look.

Any suggestions or just talk is very appreciated.

top 14 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 30 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There's a Dolphin plugin for this: https://github.com/Nyre221/dolphin-quick-view

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago

This seems to almost work. I’ll have to work on it later. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I adopted ranger as my file manager and there is a way to enable preview that works for text files, PDFs, and images (plugin). It's not Quick Look, but you might not hate it.

I like it primarily for reasons of using the keyboard to navigate, search, copy, move, delete, and open files. It helped me miss Alfred less.

Someone else has mentioned nnn, which has similar aims.

[–] anamethatisnt 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Isn't the F11 preview similar?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Kind of, but it only displays the icon of a file. macOS opens an entire intractable view that can be instantly opened and closed with the space bar. It can even do most video and audio files.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Even 3D objects

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Especially 3D objects

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

nnn has this. If you have the right helper installed, it'll even show you pictures and movies.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

This one’s really worth looking in to. I might try it out. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Followup: This is the greatest file manager of All Time.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I recently found out that Nemo has this feature as well (the default file manager for cinnamon)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Nautilus kinda has it, don’t know how it works though

[–] [email protected] -2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Is there any way to restore this functionality?

Yes, you can implement it yourself.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Look, if it becomes enough of an issue for me, I’ll learn how to create software.