I don’t exactly know what you mean about the “when you resize the view. Thumbnails don’t reflow” point, but the Cut option is valid. I use the app Command X which is a must-have at this point. I know it is also possible to make columns autofit to contents somewhere, but you may need an app like Onyx to enable it.
Sorry, I tried using MacPorts in a VM and installing Nautilus with sudo port install Nautilus as suggested on the MacPorts website, but this was the final result after like 20 minutes of "installing" data and the like to no avail.
(This was tested on a macOS Sequoia VM with an M4 MBA host running macOS Tahoe Beta 4. It is possible this may work better on an x86 Mac or older macOS version, but I wouldn't get too caught up in this.)
There is ONE other way to run Nautilus on macOS that I've used a bit, but it's kind of cheating and not that great: Containers. Specifically, Docker and similar programs should allow this (which I did test once), but more recently Apple introduced their own Containerization framework which I also tested and was able to get up and running. The issue is that Xquartz, which you'd have to use to get any GUI Linux applications on macOS, isn't very good in and of itself. No Retina support is the biggest dealbreaker for me, but this is also technically just running a micro Linux VM with access to your macOS files a bit like Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Answering your title question of “is it worth it,” considering that you seemingly either have to compile the app yourself or use an old bloated version with MacPorts, I would probably say “no.” I don’t think the time and difficulty you’d have to potentially go through just to run another file manager when you can’t even truly “replace” Finder is worthwhile.
I’m curious though, what exactly do you want out of Nautilus specifically? You could argue “aesthetic” or something, but that’s just going to look out-of-place on macOS. Unless Nautilus has some hidden superpower somewhere, it’s less functional, too. I could understand Nemo (Cinnamon’s file manager), and I’d definitely consider Dolphin (KDE’s file manager), but Nautilus (to me) has always just been the least powerful file manager with the only advantage being looking native on Adwaita… which wouldn’t even be true if you used it on macOS. Not a criticism, genuine question.
I have always been curious about MacPorts’s applications. Usually I’d assume they’re either really old versions that were once available for the platform natively (such as Safari on Windows), but that’s worth checking out.
Follow-up: Did a bit of research and looked into MacPorts. Yes, most their applications appear to be older versions, as I don’t see any indication that Nautilus (the GNOME file manager) or Dolphin (KDE’s file manager) is still in the works for macOS. I’m attempting to install this older version of Nautilus via MacPorts now in a virtual machine, and will follow up again with results.
In most instances, app installations via Applite went one of multiple ways:
- Just plain not available in Homebrew (very few)
- Available but depreciated or otherwise unable to be installed (few)
- Installs but crashed upon opening (some, including crucial apps for me like GIMP and Darktable)
- Installs but has some random error message (a few, including Inkscape, which didn’t save configurations to the app in my brief test)
- Installs but doesn’t allow checking for updates (all others, though this might just be because they update through Homebrew)
Again, 100% admit that I likely messed up somewhere doing something, hence why I’m redoing this test now. That. and the fact that almost no app that normally does allowed checking for updates within itself makes me think that all update checking is disabled since it’s just handled through Homebrew. By all means, please correct me anywhere I’m wrong there.
Believe it or not, you can actually do a decent amount of editing it in Quick Look. I discovered that myself not long ago, but you don’t have to open the Preview app or anything – Quick Look can handle it.
It’s pretty nice; I tested it out on day one. Now I just wish we had a solid Wayland window viewer. Xquartz is not great and doesn’t even support retina modes, so any GUI windows you create are NOT sharp whatsoever on a Retina display…
Just to make things simple regarding the Mac apps and tweaks, imma just go ahead and forward my “Mac app recommendation suite.” of course, not everyone needs all of these apps, and this isn’t over every use case, but this is just about every program I have on my system. You can check these out and determine if anything sounds like it could be beneficial for you. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pSsLcM4lVnqGt68yu-GgKFApOJBv2aIzMmUs_8iT_2c/edit?usp=drivesdk
Now then, specifically regarding window management and multitasking, I have a few key tips:
- Learn to utilize the App Expose, Mission Control, and true full screen app switching. macOS inheritly handles things differently from other Operating Systems. The sooner you get a grasp on that, the sooner you may start to appreciate it, or determine what other apps and programs you may want to add with it. Don’t start just adding a bunch of apps and programs before you determine what all you need. For most people, just this and macOS’s built in tiling is enough… but from the looks of things, you and I would not be “most people,” so if you would agree, read along.
- If you’re on a trackpad or Magic Mouse, you can enable and configure the settings easily within the System Settings application, and I’d argue macOS has the best trackpad experience in these regards.
- If you’re on a non-Magic Mouse, get an app like Mac Mouse Fix. It is absolutely amazing and legitimately has become part of my essential application suite anytime I use a non-magic mouse. You can download the latest 2.x version on the developer’s GitHub (which yes, does work on Tahoe) to use it free forever, configure individual app settings for things like smooth scrolling, and my personal recommendation: Map the multitasking features with extra buttons on your mouse and/or gestures. Previously, I couldn’t use any regular mouse with macOS as it felt clunky and cumbersome, but now I’m just as eager to use one as I am my trackpad, and I don’t miss the Magic Mouse one bit.
- Set apps to minimize into their application windows, then get an app like DockDoor to show window previews like Windows and most other operating systems.
- DockDoor also has a pretty basic Alt Tab-style window switcher which could be enough for some, but the dedicated “AltTab” application is a lifesaver with the right tweaks and setups for you. You can set multiple shortcuts to show different things like only app windows on that virtual desktop, windows from a certain app, non-minimized windows, and so on.
- You already said Rectangle, which I use as well. Just a general improvement over the built-in macOS window snapping (that only finally released in Sequoia or Sonoma).
- Supposedly apps like BetterTouchTool and Swish are “essentials” for many, but for me, even across my sometimes-quintuple monitor setup, the things I recommended there are about all I really need. My advice? Don’t treat macOS like a tiling manager system. it likes to have virtual desktops and different full screen windows, so utilize those. Sure, supplement the OS with nice modifications from other Operating Systems if you like, but you don’t HAVE to use those. About the last program I use is just one called Dockey that wraps a GUI around a terminal command to make the dock animate faster so I can get more out of my screen, but that’s it. Let me know if you have any other questions. I am a power user, but I also do enough tech support that I try not to become too far removed from stock so that I can help others as well. More powerful window, tiling management apps and features definitely exist, and I’ve used a few here and there, but those are the ones that work for my use case.
Sorry, that’s on me for not clarifying well enough in my wording. What I mean is that:
- Yes, Firefox sync on iOS DOES work with Zen on desktop, so I could use it even without a dedicated Zen app on iOS.
- I DON’T use Firefox on iOS due to the lack of tab swiping, a major dealbreaker.
- I’d otherwise be fine with using Zen on my computer and Firefox with sync on my phone.
Ahh, very interesting, and excellent point. Thank you for clarifying! I’ve pretty much just used simple extensions like Return YT Dislike and Grammarly, and the few extensions I use that I DO want settings to sync across devices for usually have a setting for it. That’s definitely good to know though, and I’ll keep that in mind for my tech support for the future!
Oh yeah, and there are so many great ways they could implement it, too. I know you said you’re on Android so this is FUNCTIONALLY irrelevant for you, but when you get a chance, check out a video on how Safari handles this on iOS. Legitimately the BEST navigation of mobile browsers, hands-down.
It’s slick and elegant, well-animated, snappy, and functional all in one. You can swipe up on the navigation bar to see all your tabs, then your tab groups are all available via a bar at the bottom to switch between quickly, and if you swipe all the way to the end of your tabs and swipe again, it automatically creates a new one for you. This, and a handful of other cool things, make it legitimately almost convincing enough for me to use Safari just on iOS and set up some complicated syncing method for my desktop and Android browsers, if it only supported extensions. (Orion does all of this + extensions as well and could become a viable alternative once it gets more platforms, if they can get a better implementation of vertical tabs on desktop.)
- Good to know, at least there is hope for iOS. I absolutely love this feature, especially the way it’s implemented with Safari on iOS where you can swipe up to view all tabs, as well as swipe left on your last tab to create a new one.
- More or less a convenience thing. It works on my phone, but it’s absent on desktop and makes the experience just a bit more inconvenient. we already suffer from not having true APPS like Netflix or YouTube on most desktop OS, but PWAs at least can lighten that. (And yes, I can use quick launchers like Spotlight, Raycast, Powertoys Command Pallete, Krunner, etc., but that’s still not anywhere near as convenient. I’m literally the dude who made a Launchpad remake for macOS Tahoe; of course I know “better” methods exist, but things like this can still be nice to have IMO.)
- As I said to someone else, “Built-in browser splitscreen in a browser that handles it well is genuinely game-changing. You can do things like link the Split View (links you click on one side open in the other; excellent for reviews and information gathering), quick window resizing, all your typical tab grouping and collections, and more – all without having to open another window instance.“ And yes, I use macOS (also with Rectangle), Windows, and Linux, and still have this sentiment.
- I know, right? I think it’s a WIP thing. At least, I hope it is, as the address bar ALSO hides in vertical tab mode if I use true fullscreen, but the sidebar doesn’t. I could be wrong, but I think this is also ONLY the case if vertical tabs are enabled, not just for the usual sidebar with horizontal tabs, but don’t quote me on that.
Ahh, okay, fair enough. That stinks, do I do feel slightly better knowing that it isn’t some major feature I’ve just been ignoring. Not that there ISN’T probably some benefit to it, but it’s just not for me, and I’ve not met anyone so far who prefers them… but then again, I am also THE tech for literally everyone I know 😅
Follow-up: What exactly do you like about tree-style tabs? I’ve not really looked into them before, and even in all my tech-ness (I taught myself macOS, Windows, Linux, and programs like GIMP, Darktable, Inkscape, and a good amount of DaVinci Resolve, for reference)… the two times I tried Vivaldi, I couldn’t quite get it. I mean, it visually makes sense, but why? What are your thoughts as opposed to just tab groups and a single column or row as most browsers do things?
Very cool. Always loved the extent of customization available on Firefox desktop. For me, the current implementation of Firefox’s vertical tabs is “fine” for now, but even Brave’s ultra-basic version of the feature still does it more in line with MS Edge (who does it best, IMO). I’d look into something like this for myself if the iOS app tab swiping got implemented and Zen didn’t handle things better than vanilla Firefox, though. Keep up the great customization work!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally open to forks… if they have all of these. As things stand currently though, I’d have to use Zen OR Floorp to get the features I wanted, and there’s still not a solid Firefox app (original or fork) with the tab-swiping feature so I’d be using a different browser on mobile and desktop. Not IMPOSSIBLE, but less than ideal.
I’ve used Zen before and it came the closest to actually switching browsers since Arc, but as a tech support provider who frequently uses just about EVERY OS except Chrome OS and BSD, I need something reliable and available on everything (which excludes Arc) that also has the features I need for tab swiping and all on mobile (which excludes every Firefox fork… so far.) I’m hopeful, though, that Mozilla will act on what they said here. https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/swipe-on-url-field-to-switch-tabs/idi-p/83548
It’s definitely worth a shot. Again, Arc probably has the best implementation of this feature, and is worth trying out if only to understand what I mean. MS Edge’s variation is better than basically everything else that’s not Arc in my testing, and Zen might also have a variation of this but I hadn’t used it in a while.
Built-in browser splitscreen in a browser that handles it well is genuinely game-changing. You can do things like link the Split View (links you click on one side open in the other; excellent for reviews and information gathering), quick window resizing, all your typical tab grouping and collections, and more – all without having to open another window instance.
P.S. macOS window management is certainly not its strong suit, but with the right programs and tweaks, it’s not half bad either :)
I’m totally open to Firefox forks, and Zen’s great. Problem is, that doesn’t fix the Firefox MOBILE issue… no matter how great the desktop client is, if I can’t tab swipe, I’d be using two different browsers anyway. And sure, Zen uses Firefox sync so a theoretical Zen iOS app with tab swiping would fix the issue, but said iOS app doesn’t exist (yet).
Thankfully, Mozilla said they’re looking into tab swiping on iOS, so hopefully it gets added sooner than later… hence why this post is called “Notify me when…” https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/swipe-between-open-tabs-on-ios/idi-p/2088
By “native split screen”, I simply mean the ability to display multiple windows side-by-side or on top of each other (or in other arrangements with multiple windows) within a single browser tab or window instance. I think Arc has the best implementation of this feature, but MS Edge is not far behind with the basic ability of horizontal and/or vertical Split View, plus a possible third view with the sidebar since it is distinct from vertical tabs.
Firefox’s implementation, last time I checked, still required the sidebar extension and only allowed two tabs side-by-side. It’s a start, but even vanilla Chromium has that much now and it’s built in with a flag rather than being an extension. Not to mention, again, if the vertical tabs were separate from the sidebar, you could still use separate sidebar extensions more easily and all.