Dolphin (file manager)

Introduction:

Dolphin is the default file manager for the KDE Plasma desktop environment. It is known for its user-friendly interface, highly customizable features, and integration with other KDE applications. Dolphin provides users with powerful file management tools and is designed to handle various file operations with ease, supporting both local and remote file access.

Installation:

From Official Repositories:

Dolphin is included in the official Arch Linux repositories. To install it, run the following command:

sudo pacman -S dolphin

Additional Features (Optional):

If you wish to use specific plugins or additional features, they can be installed as separate packages:

sudo pacman -S dolphin-plugins

Key Features:

Tabbed Interface: Allows users to manage multiple directories in a single window using tabs.
Split View: Easily navigate two directories side by side.
Search Functionality: Advanced search features, including search filters and indexing for faster results.
Customizable Toolbar: Customize the toolbar to suit your workflow.
KIO Support: Dolphin supports the KDE Input/Output (KIO) framework, enabling users to access remote filesystems, such as FTP, SMB, or cloud storage, directly from the file manager.
Metadata & File Previews: Dolphin supports file metadata and previews for a wide range of file types.
Drag-and-Drop Support: Supports drag-and-drop actions for file management.
Extended Context Menu: Provides additional actions when right-clicking on files or directories.
File Operations: Includes common file operations such as move, copy, rename, and delete.

Configuration and Customization:

Dolphin can be highly customized to suit individual preferences. Users can adjust settings such as:

Appearance: Change the file manager’s icon size, font, and view mode.
Shortcuts: Define custom keyboard shortcuts for frequent actions.
Behavior: Adjust how Dolphin handles file interactions, such as opening files or confirming actions.
Plugins: Extend Dolphin’s functionality with available plugins.

Usage:

Once Dolphin is installed, it can be launched from the application launcher, or from the terminal using:

dolphin

Dolphin offers the flexibility of working with multiple file management methods, such as drag-and-drop, cut/copy/paste, or using its integrated terminal (with support for fish or bash).

Conclusion:

Dolphin is an advanced yet user-friendly file manager for KDE Plasma users, providing a wide range of tools and customization options. Whether you're managing local files or accessing remote systems, Dolphin integrates seamlessly into the KDE ecosystem, making it an essential application for any Plasma user.