Introduction to Nemo
Nemo is the default file manager of the Cinnamon desktop environment, but its popularity has spread to other distributions and desktops thanks to its balance between simplicity and power. Originated as a fork of Nautilus in the Linux Mint project, Nemo retains the essence of its predecessor while incorporating improvements aimed at users seeking greater control over their daily workflow. Moreover, its open-source license allows the community to continuously improve it, ensuring it stays up to date with the latest trends in file management and user experience.
History and evolution
Development of Nemo began in 2012 when the Linux Mint team decided to create a file manager that would maintain compatibility with Nautilus extensions, but allow greater flexibility in the interface and behavior. Since then, each version has added improvements such as tabs, a configurable side panel, and deeper integration with the Cinnamon desktop.
Main features
Nemo offers a set of features designed to improve both the visual experience and operational efficiency. Among its most notable features are the ability to work with tabs, a rich file preview, and a side panel that adapts to the user’s needs.
- Icon, list, and compact view with thumbnails and content preview.
- Configurable side panel with quick access to devices, bookmarks, and networks.
- Support for multiple tabs, allowing navigation through several folders without opening new windows.
- Batch actions and customizable context menu to run scripts, compress, or convert files.
- Instant search with filtering by type, name, and attributes, and keyboard shortcuts to speed up navigation.
Customization and themes
Customization is a pillar of Nemo. From Preferences, the user can adjust the toolbar, decide which device icons to show, and choose sorting modes (name, date, size, type). Nemo supports any GTK icon theme, allowing integration with dark, light, or customized desktops. Advanced users can create custom actions via the actions editor, defining terminal commands or scripts that execute with a single click on selected files.
Integration with the Cinnamon desktop
When Nemo runs in Cinnamon, its integration goes beyond appearing in the application menu. It communicates via DBus with the panel, allowing applets to display information such as free disk space or the status of external drives. Contextual menus include Cinnamon-specific options, such as “Open as Administrator”, “Send To”, and “Create Link”, which create shortcuts on the desktop or panel. Moreover, dragging a folder from Nemo onto the panel allows pinning it as a quick bookmark or adding custom applets, improving workflow fluidity.
Extensions and plugins
Nemo supports extensions that expand its functions. Among the most used are Nemo Preview, which generates real-time thumbnails for Office documents, PDFs, and multimedia; Nemo Emblem, which allows assigning color emblems or symbols to folders and files; and Nemo Dropbox, which integrates the synchronization service directly into the context menu. These extensions are easily installed from the Linux Mint Software Manager, where users can search, install, and update add-ons with just a few clicks.
Productivity tips
To get the most out of Nemo, it is useful to know some tricks and shortcuts that can save time and reduce the number of clicks needed to perform common tasks.
- Use Ctrl+T to open a new tab and Ctrl+W to close it; Ctrl+PageUp and Ctrl+PageDown switch between tabs.
- Split the view into two panels with F3 to copy or move files between folders without opening new windows.
- Drag a folder to the side panel to create a quick-access bookmark; right-click to rename or delete the bookmark.
- Enable file preview in Preferences > Preview to review PDFs, images, and text without opening an external application.
- Define custom actions via the actions editor (Tools > Actions) to run compression, conversion, or cloud-upload scripts with a single click.
- Use the search bar with