Dolphin (file manager)

Dolphin

Default view of Dolphin in KDE Applications 15.08.
Original author(s)	Peter Penz[1]
Developer(s)	KDE
Initial release	2006
Stable release	16.08.1 (8 September 2016) [±][2]
Repository	quickgit.kde.org?p=dolphin.git
Development status	Active
Written in	C++ (Qt)
Operating system	Unix-like, Mac OS X, Windows[3]
Available in	multiple languages
Type	File browser
License	GNU General Public License v2
Website	dolphin.kde.org

Dolphin is a free and open source file manager included in the KDE Applications bundle which contains applications used primarily with the KDE Plasma 5 desktop. Dolphin became the default file manager of KDE-based desktop environments in the fourth iteration, termed KDE Software Compilation 4.^[4] It could also be optionally installed on K Desktop Environment 3. Konqueror was replaced as the default file manager for KDE SC 4, but is still the default web browser and can be used as an alternative file manager for power users.

Under previous K Desktop Environment versions, Konqueror had served both as the default file manager and web browser. However, for many years users have been critical of Konqueror as being too complex for simple file navigation. As a response, the two functions were divided into two separate applications. Under KDE SC 4, Dolphin was streamlined for browsing files, while sharing as much code as possible with Konqueror. Konqueror continues to be developed primarily as a web browser.^[5]

In 2014, work started on porting Dolphin to KDE Frameworks 5.^[6] This is now complete and a Frameworks 5-based version was released as part of KDE Applications 15.08 in August 2015.^[7]

Dolphin and K Desktop Environment 3

As development of the KDE SC 4 version was underway, the K Desktop Environment 3 version of Dolphin was discontinued. However, the program continues to be unofficially available for K Desktop Environment 3 under the slightly modified name of “D3lphin”. D3lphin contains many bugfixes and a new sidebar, but is no longer maintained.^[8]

Features

• Breadcrumb navigation bar – each part of the URL is clickable
• 3 view modes (Icons, Details and Compact), remembered for each folder
• File Previews
• Miller columns
• Split views (for copying and moving files)
• Network transparency – using KDE’s KIO slaves
• Undo/Redo functionality
• Tabbed navigation
• Renaming of a variable number of selected items in one step
• Baloo integration (including search, tagging, rating and commenting files)
• Places bar which also integrates with the Kickoff launcher menu's “Computer” tab
• Sorting and grouping of files by name, size, type and others

References

1. Peter Penz (2012-06-26). "Dolphin 2.1". Retrieved 2013-09-03.
2. "KDE Ships KDE Applications 16.08.1". KDE. 8 September 2016.
3. "Projects/KDE on Windows/Installation". KDE TechBase. KDE Website. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2010. External link in |publisher= (help)
4. "4.0 Released". KDE. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
5. "(KDE) Revision 633622". The KDE Source Repository. KDE Website. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2010. External link in |publisher= (help)
6. "KDE SC 4.14 wird 4er-Reihe abschließen" (in German). 2014-07-10.
7. "KDE Ships KDE Applications 15.08.0". KDE. 2015-08-19.
8. "D3lphin – marratwiki". marrat.homelinux.org. 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 29 January 2010.

External links

• Official website
• The Dolphin Handbook
• Dolphin user wiki