SpaceFM is a highly customizable, multi-panel tabbed file manager, forked from the legacy PCManFM. It's currently in alpha, under heavy development, but it already seems pretty stable and usable.
SpaceFM features:
- highly customizable and lightweight
- multiple panels, windows, tabs
- side panes
- desktop manager
- device manager
- task manager
- plugins support
- find-as-you-type
- file search
- output control: monitor the stdout/stderr output of built-in and custom commands, with error detection and pop-up control, or run commands in a terminal
- System management: easily launch a new root window or a root terminal
- daemon mode
With SpaceFM, you can have two vertical panels, 2 horizontal panels as well as combinations like two vertical and one horizontal, etc:
You can also customize the toolbar, columns, icons, fonts, window title an icon, use single click, and so on. And of course, SpaceFM supports multiple views too: detailed, compact or icons and/or a treeview for the sidebar:
SpaceFM also comes with "find-as-you-type", which lets you quickly locate files in a folder, a feature that's partially broken in Nautilus since version 3. And if you want to find files on your system, SpaceFM has that covered too: it comes with a built-in file search tool which lets you search for files or find in files.
SpaceFM can even handle the desktop (draw the wallpaper and display icons on the desktop). But before enabling this feature, you'll have to disable your current file manager for handling the desktop - for example, if you're using Nautilus 3, you can use GNOME Tweak Tool: Desktop > Have file manager handle the desktop to disable it. Then, in SpaceFM to to View > Preferences and on the "Desktop" tab, enable "Wallpaper" and select a background image. And finally, run SpaceFM using: "spacefm --desktop".
Tip: if you're using a global menu, you'll have some empty space where the menu used to be. You can fix this by hiding the panel bar (View > Panel Bar). You can still easily show / hide the panels by using the menu (View > Panel 1, 2 etc.) or using F1, F2 and so on.
While probably many will enjoy the level of customizations available for SpaceFM, others might find it confusing at first. But if you're looking for a lightweight file manager that looks in almost any way you want it to, you'll definitely like SpaceFM.
Download SpaceFM .deb or source files
Arch Linux users can install the latest SpaceFM via AUR.
Also see: Double Commander (Dual Panel File Manager).
