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- Meet 'Files,' the Latest elementary App
Meet 'Files,' the Latest elementary App
Submitted by cassidyjames on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 00:54Am Monkey, the lead developer of Marlin, recently “lost interest” in the file management app formerly planned for use in elementary OS. However, fear not; elementary is here to pick up the reins and continue the development.
Rather than abandoning the hard work gone into developing the first-class file manager, elementary has decided to take the existing code, refine it, patch up some papercuts, and continue its maintenance. With elementary developing the app, it allows us to more easily fix a lot of long-standing UI issues and inconsistencies. And of course we’ll continue cracking down with the HIG as we do with our other apps.
In the spirit of elementary simplicity, we’ve also decided to rename it simply to “Files.” The name “Marlin” was a clever pun, suggesting it was "the fastest fish in the sea of file managers" and referencing the fact that both Nautilus and Dolphin carry names related to the sea. However, this pun is lost on most users—except perhaps big Linux buffs—and doesn’t describe the function of the app well. “Files,” on the other hand, is as simple as it gets and lets the user know exactly what the app is for.
Another welcome change coming to Files is the re-integration of elementary technologies like the Granite framework and the Contractor extension service; this ensures a reduced codebase, easier maintenance, guaranteed consistency, increased stability, and a couple of free bug fixes and translations.
We’re already hard at work.
With the transition from Marlin to Files, we’ve already been able to land some fixes and improvements. Victor Eduardo landed some outstanding patches to fix up UI bugs and papercuts, like those present in the file properties dialog. Tom Beckmann re-integrated Contractor, making it interoperable with all of the apps and services already providing Contractor extensions. Daniel Foré and I have each landed some small bitesize string fixes. Cody Garver has taken on packaging as well as doing the actual merges and code reviews. We look forward to continuing the development, making this awesome app even better.
Test it, help out.
As with any pre-release software, there may still be bugs and things might break. However, for those adventurous testers, you can grab Files from its official Launchpad page to compile yourself. If you’re using the elementary Daily PPA, you should be able to install it on your system the usual way soon. Update: Files is available in the Daily PPA now.
Remember, things may break. But if you’re into testing, we’d love if you could file bug reports for any issues you may encounter. And if you’re lucky enough to know more than one language, you can always help with translations. Finally, if you're into helping directly with code, there are a handful of smaller bugs just waiting to be squashed.
Update
After a few weeks of silence, Am Monkey has responded to us and we held a meeting regarding Marlin and Files. Apparently he has resumed development of Marlin. However, Files will continue to exist as an official elementary app, carrying patches where necessary. Code that would be beneficial to both Marlin and Files will be proposed upstream to Marlin in addition to being added to Files. We look forward to collaborating as much as possible while ensuring our users have the best experience.
OK am I missing something or is there no way to select a file without opening it? Just installed, copying and pasting pics over, trying to multiple select, but as soon as I click the first file, it opens. Then I have to close the preview window and shift click the others....what am I missing here?
I don't know if having an elementary-specific FM is a good idea. I think you should stick with Nautilus-elementary because it already has so much functionality as a backend.
Why does only this elementary application have a generic name? Why is not Dexter called "Contacts", Maya called "Calendar", Midori called "Web", Noise called "Music", and so on? Why do you create inconsistency in application names with "Files"? Why does the file manager step out of line? This does not appear logical to me.
I love how apple naming their application. Maybe we also can follow it like eFile, eMusic, eCalendar etc. It'll be more consistent and more clear and not complicated to the users especially for the nongeeks.
Files seems to be missing since I updated this morning. Is it temporarily unavailable, broken or something else?
I'm also hoping its temporary.
In the meantime: http://elementaryos.org/support/answers/3161
Good news. Updated just now and seems to be working better than ever. Zooming works on the Mac now in Virtualbox using control/option scroll up or down.
Would love to see Gloobus integrated. I don't always want to open a program to preview a file.
Unable to customize the left column with my own folders. I drag, it hilights the location, I let go and nothing... yet.
Great work so far. I kind of consider elementary an insurance policy for light production work and media management should the Mac get too iOSified. Plex media server is working, VLC is there, Bitwig Studio is coming. I assume there's a handbrake alternative. Looking for professional alternatives to Mastering Plugins and hoping for a iMovie equivalent.
I also got the update earlier.
For now my productive work resumes to libreoffice, so I'm using Luna against all recommendations on a productive machine, but no problem so far.
For the rest of my professional work, I really need good CAD software (Autocad or die), so there's no linux distro that can help me there. But I got it on Virtualbox too, flawless.
I'm just trying out "files" now. Is it possible to resize the icons or change the background color as in OS X's "change view options" for icon / grid view?
Good job so far. Would it not make sense to introduce an official beta program for testers now? It seems to me that would create some good press and momentum for the project, perhaps even attracting more contributers.
You can change icon size with Ctrl+Scrollwheel
A public beta is planned, but the apps are not ready for it yet. We'll be sure to announce it on the Journal.
Thanks for your reply. Ctrl+Scrollwheel on the Mac activates screen zoom in Virtualbox so I'm unable to access this feature now. What happened to elementary Jupiter's slider control to resize icons in grid view? I thought that was elegant and functional.
I also notice the ability to resize the left-hand column icons has been removed in "files".
Is Gloobus or something similar planned? Pressing the spacebar now seems to open instead of preview.
In general, I support the strong design but whenever possible, we should still be able to tweak interface elements to optimize our workflow. For example, a darker / translucent theme is far less fatiguing for night time work in broadcasting or recording.
Again, great progress so far.
Gloobus was considered and we ended up dropping it because it's just a workaround for application statup time which we intend to fix directly, and its feature of supporting a lot of formats in one UI so one can quickly preview files of different types in one folder is brough to naught by the fact that previous/next actions do not sync with sort mode set in file manager.
You can name it "Mackerel".Files is actually too generic as it would conflict with other file related operations and other file manager names,Gnome -Files.I agree Marlin wouldn't exactly state it's purpose but you tag it with file manager to state it's purpose,so that's not issue.Besides good names really mean something.
I can't imagine someone spends energy and reflexion to name an application "Files"!? But I'd like large development of the concept. Too much often, people are confused and search my name. They are intimated. Stop using name and surname... Just use the name... Hum, no frankly, even simpler, just use "Man"... Everyone understands. Of course use "Man" only for me... All other can adopt an other name like "rest of the humanity" that clearly differentiate myself from any secondary alternatives. Of course you absolutely have to stop the development of Dexter... A piece of obsolete software. Only one contact named "Friend". You drag and drop emails to this contact and that all... What a wonderful world, isn't it? So simpler ! PS: girl, boy, baby, and twins are reserved in case of opportunity.
Nautilus has been "File Browser" to the user for ages. It still is. I've discovered that it was really called Nautilus and not "ubuntu file browser" as I googled it only halfway into making my own distro.
You seem to compare applications with people... IMHO applications are tools. And you don't usually name tools. A hammer is a hammer, not Salmon or Laelette. In fact, using salmon to drive a nail sounds... confusing at least.
I am with you!..and ya if we were to think of only simpleness why was the use of name was invented...we could always use man/women to identify us, no need of FabriceV or factro? . The use of 'Files' as a name don't make any point.. its like saying man to every person in the world? how will you identify one single person with term 'Man'? It represent group not a specific person, and same goes to 'Files', for eg, Open 'Files' and select all your files and past it on another 'Files' window..:D
I think it makes sense that for new users you want to call the app "Files". For mail I'd call it "Mail". Same for Scratch. I'd actually call that "Notes".
In the background you can call it whatever nautical species you'd like, but from a user facing perspective it makes sense to call it by what it is:
Midori -> Web
Geary -> Mail
Scratch -> Notes
Makrel -> Files
etc
etc
etc
etc
I think that new users will thank you
I disagree, because your analogies exactly demonstrate the problem. Each time professionals are exposed to many specific versions of the same tools they invent jargons to name them (i.e. all the different hammers). What's about all photo managers and editors that have overlapped functionalities but are often simultaneously installed because they are complementary? How to name them accordingly?
I agree to the fact that a software (e.g. Midori) appears as "web" but not that the software is named "web". But it's an OS design. Designers need to investigate when and where the full name appears (e.g. "File Marlin" appears inside the helps, the about dialog and so on. It's just common sense, open mind, respect to all other file manager projects, and user practices. Renaming software should remain a feature of the the OS.
What does it serves to produce elementary if elementary reproduces Gnomes' mistakes? (I mean produces controversial features without taking into account the problems produced for part of the community). Fork again elementary?
If only elementary could fork plank so we get the granite integration we deserve.
What you really want is gtk.menu to support rounded corners and little arrows. You're confusing the decoration with the widget itself.
Well, there's no need to fork it really - Plank is intended to be a sample dock upon the library of which custom docks will be built. So I suppose we'll get a custom dock without any forking; we will need greater inegration eventually.
I don't get what do you mean by "granite integration", though. Just FYI, dock context menus as popovers are being worked on (no promises though).
Plank team does not plan to support granite-themed popovers, as discussed in the following link:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/plank/+bug/731923
But we do, there's a merge request for that already.
In fact we're already using not "vanilla" Plank but a version with some additions made for us by Rico. Customizing the way the menu is drawn will not be an issue if we decide to go for it.
I've been waiting for the day when elementary manages its own fm. It has come.
Well, Marlin was always an elementary file manager. However, the project leader left the elementary team. Now we are just taking it back, by forking it.
Interesting developments. I hope the elementary OS team puts Marlin back as the default file manager when Luna is released (now that it's being actively developed again).
This is not going to happen. We've been able to land quite a few UI fixes since taking it over and I don't think anyone is interested in going back to having our merge proposals ignored or rejected.
Gotcha. All that I meant was that I don't like to see too much workload for you and the other members of the elementary OS team if Marlin was back up and running again.
Indeed. We met with ammonkey in the hopes that we could work together, but alas some things don't change.
I'm a big fan of the keep it simple stupid approach and I hope you stick with it when Luna's finally released. I also appreciate the fact you are taking your time with this release. Most Linux distros I've tried seem pretty rushed and pretty unstable as a result.
Totally agree about not rushing it
Well I like the change. It keeps it simple and objective as it should be. For all the comments about the 'branding' thing and it being too generic I agree with DanRabbit, most people see a file browser as a SO functionality, 'something it can do'. They dont have the vision that a file browser is a program developed apart from the SO. So, I think calling it just 'Files' keep that vision that it is part of the SO.
hey, whats SO :D
Sorry, I mean OS. I'm from Brazil and in portuguese we say 'SO'. :)
SO is the abreviation for Operating System in Andoress native language. :)
Now that Files is an official app of elementary, are you going to implement search functionality? (Suggestion: a search box like all other elementary apps would be nice)
Search is definitely planned. We'll probably integrate it into the pathbar like Midori.
am-monkeyd has restarted developing Marlin. There was an update last Thursday.
Read the part under "Update".
so he just 'lost interest' for a few weeks and now suddenly after you guys forked it he regained it? something's fishy
Well, it did used to be called Marlin...
*rimshot*
Can you explain why elementary is not just merging the work on files into marlin and going back to marlin? I don't see the advantage of aving two near identical projects. Also *cough*Noise/BeatBox*cough*
In an ideal world, that would happen. But the reality is that upstream projects do not always agree with or accept the work that downstreams do. This is what causes projects to fork. Over time the differences between the two will become larger and larger.
Ok, thanks. By the way, I love your commenting system!
With all the in fighting that kills or cripples many open source projects, I hope this is not the case here. I hope elementary project will not suffer from all this duplication and fragmentation of efforts. In a perfect world all of us could agree on putting all the hard work in the same direction. All the best to both the teams developing Files and Marlin.
You elementry people can't loose A M, He is very important for the project I think.
I'm happy with the new update. Don't know if now, that Marlin project was resumed, is a good idea to have a parallel project, it's like do double effort if you know what I mean.
He's a proficient and knowledgeable coder indeed. It's a pity to "lose" him.
ammonkey hasn't been developing with us for probably over a year now :p So "losing" him is nothing new. I can tell you that the work on Files is moving along much faster than the work on Marlin was, now that we are able to review and commit branches ourselves.
You should keep it as "Marlin", to follow the "tradition" of ocean animals :)
Well we can't exactly steal the name from ammonkey. That's his intellectual property. But as Cassidy pointed out, it's kind of an inside joke for Linux geeks. If we're to cross the chasm and build an OS that normal people can use and enjoy we need to not do things that cater exclusively to this niche crowd.