My Favorite Linux Search Tools Make It Easier To Find Your Files - No Command Line Needed

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Make searching for files easier pinch these GUI tools.
• Each of these apps will activity connected astir distributions.
• You tin instal these devices for free.

In nan early days of Linux, searching for files was a command-line matter utilizing either find aliases find. Although nan devices were suitable for nan job, they would sometimes neglect to find what I was looking for aliases would require analyzable regular expressions to usability properly.

New users to Linux should debar utilizing regular expressions. This is particularly existent now, pinch nan galore awesome GUI applications disposable for Linux. After all, why would you fuss pinch nan bid statement erstwhile you tin constituent and click your measurement to uncovering nan files and folders you need?

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The GUI apps besides hap to person much options and customizations available, making them much usable and user-friendly. And they activity really well.

I will opportunity that location are immoderate GUIs specifically for searching that don't activity arsenic good arsenic others, truthful I've constricted my database to those I cognize activity and activity well.

That said, let's get to nan database of 4 Linux hunt GUIs.

1. Catfish

Catfish has been astir for a very agelong clip and useful for illustration a champ.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Catfish has been astir for rather immoderate time. I retrieve utilizing this app successful nan early 2000s and reasoning that it wasn't bad, but could usage immoderate work. The Catfish of today, however, is earnestly bully -- and very fast. 

Although Catfish is nan default hunt for nan Xfce desktop, it useful perfectly good connected astir Linux desktops. The Catfish GUI is well-designed and easy to use. Catfish uses fuzzy search, truthful you don't person to beryllium nonstop pinch your capitalization aliases complete pinch your hunt strings. 

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For example, I created 3 files successful my Documents directory: zdnet_test.ods, zdnet_test.odt, and zdnet_test.txt. I could hunt for zdnet, ZDNET, ZDnet, zdNet, aliases immoderate variation, and Catfish recovered what I was looking for.

The 1 point Catfish cannot do is hunt wrong files, but you tin astatine slightest specify a clip framework for your search, which tin beryllium adjuvant connected systems pinch a ample number of files.

Catfish tin beryllium installed from your distribution's modular repositories, utilizing your GUI app store, and is free to use.

2. FSearch

FSearch is 1 of nan fastest devices connected nan list, and it shows results arsenic you type.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

FSearch was inspired by nan Everything Search instrumentality for Windows (created by Voidtools) and runs incredibly fast. Not only is FSearch 1 of nan fastest hunt devices disposable for Linux, but it besides searches arsenic you type; you don't moreover person to decorativeness typing nan hunt drawstring earlier results statesman to appear.

FSearch supports regular hunt strings arsenic good arsenic regex (regular expressions). You tin besides straight unfastened a record from wrong FSearch by double-clicking nan desired result.

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One point to cognize astir FSearch: You person to adhd directories to nan database earlier they tin beryllium searched. For instance, I opened Preferences, clicked Database, and added my location directory. Once that was added, it was indexed and searchable. If you don't adhd directories to nan database, your searches will travel up empty. You tin adhd arsenic galore directories to nan database arsenic needed.

You'll besides find some see and exclude options. For example, you mightiness want to see your location directory, but exclude your .cache sub-folder.

From wrong Preferences, you tin besides configure erstwhile to update nan database. This is an important characteristic arsenic it ensures immoderate caller files you've added since past utilizing FSearch will beryllium available. You tin either configure nan database to beryllium updated each clip FSearch starts, aliases group it up for time-based updates.

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FSearch isn't capable to hunt wrong files, but it does an outstanding occupation of uncovering your files by name.

FSearch tin beryllium installed for free from your distribution's modular repositories.

3. Snoop

Snoop does require a spot much work, but it'll thief you find what you're looking for.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Snoop is not only tin of searching for record names, but besides strings wrong files. There is 1 caveat to Snoop's expertise to hunt wrong files: Snoop is only tin of searching wrong matter files. I ran a speedy trial by adding nan drawstring "Linux" successful some a .txt and .odt file. Snoop was capable to find Linux successful nan .txt file, but not nan .odt file. I'm assuming that is because .odt documents are compressed binary files, and Snoop isn't tin of searching wrong them.

Snoop is rather easy to use, but you do person to group your Path earlier you tally a search. You don't person to group an definitive path. For example, if you group nan way to your location directory, Snoop will besides hunt successful each kid directory (such arsenic Documents).

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One caveat to Snoop is that it doesn't let you to group exclude directories; you''ll spot results from your .config, .cache, and akin types of directories, which intends you mightiness person a spot much problem combing done nan results.

Snoop tin beryllium installed for free from your distribution's modular repositories.

4. Albert

Albert is my favourite Linux hunt tool.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Albert is much than conscionable a record hunt instrumentality -- it's besides a desktop launcher. With Albert, you tin hunt for files, unfastened apps, tally ChatGPT queries, tally web searches, hunt Chromium bookmarks, hunt YouTube, and overmuch more. You tin moreover build your ain plugins to further grow Albert 's features. 

Albert is nan Linux app you didn't cognize you needed.

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The 1 characteristic I wish Albert would adhd is nan expertise to hunt for strings wrong files. Hopefully, successful early releases, this will beryllium made possible.

One point to support successful mind: You must alteration nan Files plugin, arsenic it is not group by default. To do this, unfastened Albert's Settings model and spell to nan Plugins tab. Click nan checkbox associated pinch Files, and you're bully to go.

Albert does person a spot of a learning curve, but erstwhile you get up to velocity pinch it, you'll find it's incredibly useful.

Albert tin beryllium installed for free by downloading nan installer for your distribution from nan VBS download page.