Before GNOME 3 there was (unsurprisingly) GNOME 2, which had gained an ardent fanbase throughout its reign as one of many frequent default Linux desktops. The Mate project (named after the yerba mate plant) started as an effort to proceed the GNOME 2 desktop, at first utilizing GTK 2 (the toolkit GNOME 2 was based mostly upon) and later incorporating GTK 3. Today, Mate delivers a well-known desktop surroundings that appears and feels precisely like GNOME 2 did, utilizing the GTK 3 toolkit. Part of that desktop is the Caja file supervisor, a easy however strong software that helps you kind and manage your information.
Install Caja
Caja is not precisely a stand-alone software. It’s tightly coupled to the Mate desktop, so to strive it you could set up Mate.
You might discover Mate included in your Linux distribution’s software program repository, or you may obtain and set up a distribution that ships Mate as its default desktop. Before you do, although, bear in mind that it is meant to offer a full desktop expertise, so many Mate apps are put in together with the desktop. If you are operating a special desktop, it’s possible you’ll end up with redundant functions (two PDF readers, two media gamers, two file managers, and so forth). To consider Caja with out making main modifications to your laptop, set up a Mate-based distribution in a digital machine utilizing GNOME Boxes.
(Seth Kenlon, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Clear format
The factor that you just’re more likely to discover first about Caja is its clear and direct format. There’s a toolbar throughout the highest of the Caja window with buttons for frequent duties. I like this type of design. Function is not hidden away in a right-click menu, nor discoverable solely after an motion, nor buried in a menu. The “obvious” actions for the window are listed proper throughout the highest.
Under the primary toolbar is the placement bar. This shows your present path, both as a sequence of buttons or as editable textual content. Use the Edit button to the left of the trail to toggle whether or not it is editable or not.
Configurable
For longtime customers of GNOME 2 or Caja, the primary toolbar will be redundant, particularly as soon as you understand the keyboard shortcuts to invoke frequent actions. That’s why the Caja interface is configurable. You can disable main elements of the Caja window from the View menu, together with:
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Main toolbar
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Location bar
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Side panel
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Extra panel
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Status bar
In brief, you may make Caja as minimal as you need it to be.
(Seth Kenlon, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tag your folders
Some persons are “visual” individuals. They like to prepare information and folders in keeping with how they understand their information, somewhat than how the pc interprets it. For occasion, if the 2 most important folders for you’re Music and Work, it may be arduous to persuade a pc that there is any relationship between these two. Alphabetically, there’s rather a lot that ought to get began between the 2, and the contents of every could also be fully totally different (media information in a single, spreadsheets in one other).
Caja gives some help.
With Caja, you may place directories manually inside a window, and Caja remembers that placement. What’s extra, Caja has quite a lot of emblems out there so that you can use as visible labels. You can discover them within the Edit menu, in Backgrounds and Emblems. Drag and drop them onto information and folders to assist them stand aside.
(Seth Kenlon, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Caja
As file managers go, Caja is among the most inviting. It’s configurable sufficient to enchantment to many various use instances, and in these configuration choices, you are more likely to discover a workflow that works for you. If you are a fan of GNOME 2, then you definitely’re positive to search out Caja acquainted, and when you’ve by no means used GNOME 2 then you definitely would possibly simply discover your new favourite desktop in Mate.