The Road to KDE 4: Dolphin and Konqueror

As some of you who monitor the KDE news sphere may have noticed, there has been a recent addition to the kdebase module. The Dolphin File Manager has been added to complement Konqueror's browsing capabilities. Read on for more information about this new File Manager and its relationship to Konqueror and the rest of KDE.

A brief history lesson so you can get an overview of how file management has evolved with KDE: In KDE 1.x, KFM (the KDE File Manager) was born. It was a very rudimentary, very basic file manager with limited web browsing capabilities. Below is a shot of KFM browsing files (from the kde.org screenshot archive) so you get an idea of how it operated.

While it's obvious that KDE has come a long way since KDE 1.x, it is still easy to see which parts of KFM have inspired Konqueror's contemporary design, which was introduced as part of KDE 2.0. KParts technology revolutionized the way we used our File Manager application, turning Konqueror into a full fledged web-browser, and more. Here's a shot of Konqueror from KDE 3.5.6, and you can see that while the user interface is much improved, the same basic concepts remain visible from the KFM days.

Konqueror really shines as a beacon of KDE technologies in the KDE 2.x and 3.x series, showcasing the best parts of KDE technologies. Konqueror showcased the power of KDE's IO slaves, allowing true network transparency when managing your files over FTP, fish (SSH), HTTP, and much more. Konqueror is so advanced that you can enter an FTP URL into a HTML upload form and it just works as you would logically expect it to (as far as I know, it is the only browser which allows this). It also featured KParts, which allowed it to embed just about any sort of viewer required, directly into the interface, embedding things like KPDF, KWord, image viewers, and most importantly, the ever-improving KHTML page renderer. This is important, since even Konqueror's icon views were implemented as pluggable parts, making just about any kind of icon view possible.

So, Konqueror is a really powerful tool that can do just about everything you and your system can possibly want, and with this power comes unlimited configurability and extensibility through control modules and plugins. However, what often happens in Konqueror when you are browsing the internet is that Konqueror still wants to behave as a file manager and not a web browser. This split behavior is easily noticed through elements such as toolbar buttons. For example: the "Up" arrow is still available on the toolbar even when browsing Google Maps, but it is totally irrelevant in this context; another is having a web bookmarks toolbar visible while sorting icons in your /home folder.

Introducing Dolphin: Dolphin is a new File Manager for KDE 4 which is dedicated 100% to file management, and is not intended to be a one-size-fits-all tool as Konqueror currently attempts. It is intended to optimize your file management related tasks, and present an easy to use file manager for casual KDE use. That doesn't mean it won't be powerful or configurable, only that Dolphin is being built for a single purpose.

Dolphin isn't a total rewrite however, and is not intended to compete with Konqueror, rather the two applications will be complimentary. Dolphin uses the already existing IO slave facilities of the KDE platform to perform remote or local file management, meaning that it will be capable of doing all of the 'remote management' type activities that Konqueror has already matured. Dolphin just won't show web pages or PDF files embedded as Konqueror does.

And Konqueror will benefit from Dolphin as well. Konqueror is not going to disappear for KDE 4, although its user interface may yet see some adjustments as its primary utility will not as the default file manager. Of course, Konqueror will still be available for file management tasks as it has been in the past - there will be no changes in this regard. Changes made to KDE's icon view parts through the development of Dolphin will also help to improve Konqueror's icon views, as they both share these libraries. As stated before, Konqueror loads all of these icon views as pluggable libraries called KParts - improvements to the underlying KParts automatically benefit all users.

So lets take a look at Dolphin and Konqueror as they currently exist in KDE's Subversion repository. Please keep in mind that these snapshots represent developer work-in-progress builds and, while publicly available, are not representative of the final appearance or intended functionality of either applications, nor are they recommended for everyday use.

Konqueror currently looks something like this, and the icon views only half work. The problem is that these file views are simply direct ports of the KDE 3 codebase. Konqueror will eventually receive the same fileviews that Dolphin is currently using.

You can tell from Konqueror's default configuration of using tabs, and various other related interface choices that Konqueror is now mostly a web browser that also happens to do file management. While Konqueror's roots are truly derive from file management, it is more frequently operated as a browser these days by many KDE users. Konqueror does a great job as a web browser, underpinned by the fact it now implements CSS 3, including the highly-anticipated 'opacity' tags.

So while Konqueror continues to improve as a browser, it will continue to maintain KDE 3.x file management standards, providing a baseline functionality, and will be improved as code is shared between itself and Dolphin.

Dolphin is a whole different animal. It is a 'real' file manager - it's interface has a lot of elements which are specific to a file manager and cannot really be justified in a browser. This is best demonstrated with a screenshot.

Notice the implemention of a 'breadcrumb'-style directory selector, which works well for file management in a lot of cases, but is totally useless if you need to enter a URL when using a browser, and so becomes the sort of widget which is only useful when dealing with file hierarchies. Breadcrumb widgets may be familiar to anyone who has used OS X's Finder or GNOME's Nautilus. Another comment about the above screenshot: clicking and holding a breadcrumb item displays a list of directories that are at the same level as the one clicked, allowing for more efficient navigation.

However, using the breadcrumb widget is not essential, and if you are more comfortable with a Konqueror-style location bar, this mode of operation is easily configurable, as seen above. In fact, much of Dolphin is configurable, illustrated below.

This screenshot evidences the amount of effort KDE is spending trying to make configuration layouts sane while still providing as many options as reason allows. Also note the improved appearance of the configuration dialogs in KDE 4. Of course, this is going to be revisited somewhat as the dialog is too tall for some screens at the moment. After the Oxygen visual components go live, this dialog will be even easier on the eyes.

So, Dolphin's functionality is not entirely new, other than it presents itself in a new way. It can be seen as a hybrid between the power of Konqueror and the structure of Nautilus. Dolphin still builds on a strong KDE base, reusing existing technologies like KIO slaves and so forth. Right-click actions that were available in Konqueror will still be mostly present (except that Dolphin will necessarily load files externally instead of using embedding viewers). And Konqueror can now improve its web browsing experience even more, doing so without losing the file browsing support that has been there since KDE 2.0.

When KDE 4 is released, Dolphin will be configured as the default application for the local file:/ protocol, as well as the default file manager listed in the applications menu. Konqueror will ship as the default web browser, and will still be usable as a file manager to those that prefer the historical lifestyle. Users of KDE will have the ability to set the default file browser, much like how KDE 3.x can use third-party applications such as Krusader as the default file manager. Stay tuned for more information as Dolphin and KDE evolve towards 4.0.

Comments

by Chani (not verified)

I've never really bothered managing my files. personally, I think what I want is more of a file *viewer*. I love being able to open anything in konq, but when I've got a dozen pdf's from school and I'm searching for the one that has the info I need, I get tired of hitting the back button. it's not as bad as having a bajillion windows open, but it's still annoying. I think what I need is some way to have the folder contents shown on one side, and the contents of the selected file on the other side. this would make flipping through pdfs much easier. I've no idea where I would find such behaviour, though... there's an image view thingy for konq that does this, but it's only for images; I want to be able to view any file type!

...now that I think about it, it can't be too hard to extend that image view to show anything... if only I had the time...

by Aris (not verified)

In konqueror you can
- split the view left/right,
- link the two views by clicking in the right empty square in the status bar
- lock the left view to its current location using the status bar context menu
When you click on a pdf file (or any kind of file) in the left view it opens in the right view.

I use this all the time and find it very convenient...

by Chani (not verified)

interesting.. I never understood what "link view" meant.
I think this is exactly what I wanted. thanks! :)

by ben (not verified)

What really annoys me is the bad intergration of Firefox into KDE. I don't understand why in the free software world interaction and interoperability do not perform properly:
a) why don't files open as KPDF
b) the ugly download context window, it's okay for most of us
c) the open dialogue.

I want to use Firefox but under KDE it is a real usability pain. Konqueror could be an alternative. the point is I prefer to use firefox and I don't see why the mozilla guy make KDE the worst firefox plattform.

by no (not verified)

It is one of the things I actually hate about KDE.

The Unix Way is a well crafted tool for a single purpose. Not a half-assed bundle of crap to address 400 functions. In the attempt to make an uber-combo of applications that address email, contacts, browsing, file management, etc - other stand-alone apps get shafted.

Dolphin may not be as full featured as some of the other managers and may have a number of things that should be added to it still (trees and tabs, for example) - but the fact that they have finally acknowledged that sometimes having one well built tool for a specific purpose is enough of a reason to encourage me with regard to the future of KDE.

by Boudewijn Rempt (not verified)

Actually, you couldn't be more wrong. Konqueror is your shell, comparable to bash. The various parts for viewing documents or managing files or browsing the webs are small, lean components that in many cases can also be used stand-alone.

by Anon (not verified)

Exactly. Fun fact: The codebase of Konqueror is only approximately 40k lines of code. In comparison, Nautilus is about 95k, Epiphany also about 95k, and "lightweight" Thunar appears to be (rather oddly - maybe sloccount is acting up?) about 77k.

by Kurt Pfeifle (not verified)

Your Unix Way is less complete than My Unix Way.

My Unix Way does have the same well crafted tools that yours has. But on top, My Unix Way is able to combine those tools in new creative ways.

In a shell I can use pipes, re-directions, loops, functions that include the different of those tools.

Konqueror helps me to use KParts, KIOslaves, DCOP, bookmarks and more KDE building blocks to achieve new functionality. In the FileOpen and SaveAs dialogs I can do the same.

You don't see the advantages for you? Your bad. Keep doing like you do, but let me keep doing like I do, please.

by funnyfanny (not verified)

hehe :> i am certainly joking, but if you dont add your userbase to such desicions you will get it. Like xfree86. I know he who codes decides, i dont think thats the best thing for kde.

We need Guidance and clear and democratic descicions.

by whatever noticed (not verified)

>>democratic descicions.

Yup, and in a democracy, only the official citizens of a country decide.
So in the case of KDE, i guess that would be the active members of the project.
And that would be the developers..

So the question is, did a majority of the developers decide to put dolphin in kdebase?
I guess they did...

by olahaye74 (not verified)

I don't agree.

Developpers could compare to people that are elected.
Users could compare to people that vote.

People not using KDE could compare to "non official" citizens.

Nobody voted, is it a dictature?

by Youssef (not verified)

I think it would be fine to let the user base decide on the default settings. Same goes for the other programs that do the same thing (ex: Okular/Ligature). Personally, it would be nice to fix Konqueror's problem within Konqueror, not by inventing a new manager.

by whatever noticed (not verified)

so we need to prerelease kde4 with all options open, like a RC-something, then let the user base use all applications for a while, lets say 6 months, and after that everyone gets to vote wich application stays in and wich application gets out..

Hmm, that would delay the release of kde to summer 2008 i guess...

by Grósz Dániel (not verified)
by Youssef (not verified)

This requires registering. A more accessible poll would be better.

by whatever noticed (not verified)

in most democracys, to vote means to register..

by Luca Beltrame (not verified)

The question comes to mind, after seeing all the outrage. I played a bit with the KDE 3 version and it looks like a nice file manager. Before saying things like "Don't take Konqueror away" or the like, you should at least wait until KDE 4 is released to see if you like/dislike Dolphin as default, IMO. In this case a stand "by principle" is not the best course of action.

As Konqueror is not going away anyway, I see it as a non-issue, really. Even if Dolphin will be the default, it will ultimately be up to distros to make the choice of default file manager.

Again, I think people are overreacting.

Disclaimer: I use neither Dolphin nor Konqueror for my daily work, and it's not because I don't like them, but because I'm a command line person.

Just to add something, don't judge dolphin based on the KDE3 version, loads of features are planed for KDE4 and you won't do it justice if you judge now.

by chri (not verified)

its not just dolphin, i always hate it when problems are not fixed where they arise but a new project is created because someone does not want/or can read the orginal code.

to the developer from doplhin: Please keep up the work, but i think you know yourself, working on the core element of kde is a core discussion :> so just prove everybody wrong :)

by Mr. Angry (not verified)

Developers, please get a clue.
We, the users of KDE, didn't ask for this infantile abortion to be pushed on us.
Take the hint before we are forced to walk with our feet and take our goodwill with us.

by Luca Beltrame (not verified)

Wow, you make a show of constructive criticism.

by whatever noticed (not verified)

It's kinda funny:

kicker gets removed: everyone cheared..
kdesktop gets replaced: everyone cheared...
DCOP leaves KDE: everyone cheared...
Other componements removed from KDE: ditto....
Konqueror no longer default (but stays in kde): Everyone gets angry!!

I guess everyone has fallen in love with this application.
If we look at the past, even small changes to Konqueror (like cleaning up the interface) have lead to large discussions on the dot.
So for most KDE users, this change is Huge, even more huge than the removal of kdesktop/kicker/dcop...

by Ian MacGregor (not verified)

Well, I use konqueror as my file manager all day every day. Yes, it's that important to some of us.

by blackbelt_jones (not verified)

>Developers, please get a clue.
We, the users of KDE, didn't ask for this infantile abortion to be pushed on us.
Take the hint before we are forced to walk with our feet and take our goodwill with us.

SOURCE CODE! Don't forget to take the SOURCE CODE!

by Lars (not verified)

Can somebody tell me why all KDE programs has to have a Settings menu? I'm not an expert, but from my point of view most people change the setting once or twice until they find their preferred settings. After this is done you leave them alone, and then the Settings menu just clutters the UI.

In a "simple" program like Dolphin I guess most people would be happy with a "settings" menu item under Edit or something.

Is there a setting for removing the settings menu?

by olahaye74 (not verified)

I think that the Configuration menu is a good thing for the following reason:

- All application have their settings in the same place: you don't need to search if setup is done in the File menu, in the Edit menu, in the tools menu or in the Help menu. Also you don't need to check if settings are called options, setup settings or whatever as if any setting exists, its within the Configuration menu.

- Same goes for the Help menu

Note that the Edit menu is bad IMHO as many applications thare are only viewers don't have an Edit menu (pdv viewers, image viewers, ...)

You must be a Firefox user under Linux. If you look at Firefox under Windows, you'll notice that the preferences are under the Tools menu. Thus its even worse as it's inconsistent between the 2 OSes...

by KDE user (not verified)

I followed the entire discussion here and what I don't understand is: Why can we not embed dolphin into konqueror, just like how kpdf can be an embedded viewer? That way konqueror becomes truly a base from which it calls up the parts that it needs. Or is this a totally crap idea?

by birdy (not verified)

Best solution imho.
And let's do the same with the web-part of konqueror.

by Sebastian Kügler (not verified)

There will be only one filemanagement part, which will be the same that is used for Dolphin. So embed it into konqueror, you get the konqueror filemanager, embed it into the dolphin frame, you get dolphin.

by no (not verified)

We don't need more crap jammed into konq. I dont' use konq for my web browser. I don't use it for my file management. I don't use it for viewing anything. I just pretend it doesn't exist.

I mean, why not embed our email app into konq? And a bit torrent client? And krdc? And an IDE for developers?

by A_KDE_User (not verified)

After reading this endless thread I'm pretty sure that the name of the new best of the best 'gnumerish' file manager is just misspelled!
It must be called 'Golphin'!

by T1m (not verified)

Guys, why the big fuss?
Is dolphin THAT bad? It's basicly a konqueror tab, just in a new window.
I think we should be more thankfull of the KDE devs.

by T1m (not verified)

Guys, why the big fuss?
Is dolphin THAT bad? It's basicly a konqueror tab, just in a new window.
I think we should be more thankfull of the KDE devs, and if you want to use Konq for file browsing, do so.

I am a fan of Konqueror and I am depressed to see that KDE developers instead of focussing their efforts in improving what is already working and proven software, they are trying to re-invent the wheel. I don't want any foreign Dolphin stuff in my machine. I don't need it! I didn't ask for it! Maybe they live in a parallel world from which we common users cannot have access. I believe the problem is in lack of interaction-feedback between developers and end users. I appreciate developers efforts a lot, but I prefer them not to waste their time in duplicating or complicating further KDE. For instance, what we really need is a fast responsive system that works in say, 5-7 years old hardware. Or are they again copying the Vista model, which can run only with newest fastest hardware? C'mon guys, Improve what is already there. Do not re-invent the wheel. One example is: the KcD player. It is soooo slow to start working upon inserting a music cd, that you can hardly believe it is part of KDE. This kind of situation is embarrassing since Windows XP is so responsive. I believe that the root of the problem lies in the lack of a strong LEADER in KDE. Yeah, KDE lacks of a Leader with the caliber and experience of Linus Torvalds. Too bad. Hope that Gnome will learn from KDE mistakes...

Not only a troll, but a silly troll as well, aren't you :)

Oh, come on... He does have a point. That Dolphin screenshot only made me think about Vista's new Explorer. By the way - I don't like either. There should've been a "List view" option in Windows Explorer but Microsoft thought the users never used it or something. Now we see the best (probably) desktop environment going down Microsoft's road. And not only trying to have an application that's more like its latest competitor but the worst that it happens is copying the concept and pretty much of its layout. How can that be original. Reading of Dolphin got me excited thinking about a KDE application that will simply rock local file management. Seeing the screenshot only got me in this position, complaining about high resemblance with M$ software and backing up a guy someone in here named him a troll. Why copy?? KDE is quite good as it is. Making it faster by use of QT4 and more development might be every user's dream. But copying sucks. Sorry. No thumbs up for Dolphin so far.

by ipspeł (not verified)

KDE does not have enough man power to fix all the Konqueror bugs, so starting a whole new project that does nothing but duplicate a little bit of existing functionality is a total waste.

Fix Konqueror bugs, make it more flexible, take care of all the profile management mess once and for all by separating web browsing from file management, change all the eye candy you want, let the user choose whether to have the Up button, etc. etc.

There is plenty of work to do. How about fixing file selection using keyboard for example? It is obvious no Konqueror developer ever tried to select files in it using keyboard. Konqueror is the only file manager in existence that has totally broken and useless keyboard selection and navigation. Do we have man power to fix that? It seems we don't. (And I beg you please *please* don't come with the usual crap like "have you opened a bug?". Just try to use it and you'll see how badly it's broken and has been forever.)

So if we have people who don't care to improve an existing program that is already the best of all but needs work to make it better, that's fine, let them work on a new project or do whatever else they want or just leave, KDE doesn't need you. KDE needs people who can finish a good work that was started ten years ago, that is what we all need.

by Jonathan Zeppettini (not verified)

Apt quote at the bottom of the post:

"No fake - I'm a big fan of konqueror, and I use it for everything." -- Linus Torvalds

Dolphin will provide a much simpler interface that is comparable to Nautilus in GNOME. This seems to have some KDE users worried that development on Konqueror's file management will cease. Linux is about options and this will just give the average user what many believe to be a less intimidating experience. Meanwhile power users will still have all the flexibility of Konqueror at their disposal.

by Steve (not verified)

"Linux is about options and this will just give the average user what many believe to be a less intimidating experience"

I've installed Kubuntu 7.04 on many PCs that used to be Windows machines. Not one of those users found Konqueror an "intimidating experience".

Konqueror is one of those apps that is deceptively simple on the surface. As you use Konqueror you discover it's an amazingly powerful tool. Dolphin is the exact opposite, is looks like it might be a powerful tool, but my experience with it is that it is all smoke and mirrors.

by Mitch Golden (not verified)

I am a huge fan of KDE and of Konqueror in particular, and I am, like many in this thread, disappointed that things are being taken in this direction. Konqueror is a truly new paradigm for how to use the desktop. It finally realizes well the longstanding goal of mixing the web with the local machine. I really love having tabs that mix directories, files, and web pages. If it's split apart into separate apps, as is proposed here, it will be a step backwards. (And, like others, I find the up botton isn't a problem when browsing, and it's sometimes an advantage.)

Frankly, as a web browser, Konqueror is still not up to the level of Firefox. It is slower and doesn't render as well. Konqueror is still unstable (it crashes pretty often when I right click on things, and it gives the "Can't connect DCOP" popup most of the time when it doesn't crash). But I use it anyway because it's really a lot better way to work. If the developers think of it simply as a browser, they'll stop improving the other parts, and split their efforts.

Konqueror is one of the greatest applications of the last 10 years; I hope it stays at the center of KDE.

by Theo Schmidt (not verified)

I agree with Mitch. I don't see a need for yet another file manager when the effort would be better spent to improve the stability of Konqueror, my only gripe. Konqueror is I believe uniquely the most powerful "browse and manage everything" tool, yet doesn't even show up in most browser statistics. I feel the effort spent in promoting Dolphin would be better spent in promoting Konqueror, which seems heavily under-publicised considering its merits.

See the attachment for a screenshot with a website, local home, local folder, and a remote folder in one tab (and 4 websites and a server folder in further tabs). I suspect Konqueror is the only application which can do this.

by siege2050 (not verified)

Dolphin is too much like Gnome. I don't use Gnome because of its lack of options, and this really makes me sad. What is wrong with embedded PDF and HTML viewing? I think this is a really bad idea, and Konqueror should be left alone. I tried Dolphin and it irritates the heck out of me. How is this supposed to be more efficient when you have to open an external viewer just to view a file? It slows things down in my opinion. What about the split view terminal mode. I use that all the time, and I don't see it in Dolphin. Instead it opens an external Konsole. Linux still requires the use of a terminal quite often, and I just don't see how this is better. To me the only way you can make Dolphin usable is to give it the embedded capabilities, and advanced configuration options Konqueror has, and then you just have Konqueror. Just leave it alone.

by Paul Eggleton (not verified)

I really don't see what there is to complain about here. If you don't like it then nobody's forcing you to use it - Konqueror will still be there and will still be fully functional for file management in KDE 4.

By the way, you should bear in mind that many new Linux users will not use the console, nor should they be expected to even know it exists. We are already at the stage where for day to day use the console is no longer necessary - but of course it's still there for power users such as yourself (and myself). The small subset of those power users who want Konsole embedded in the file manager can still have that in Konqueror in KDE 4 - nothing is going away.

by Anon (not verified)

"I really don't see what there is to complain about here. If you don't like it then nobody's forcing you to use it - Konqueror will still be there and will still be fully functional for file management in KDE 4."

People's IQs seem to drop sharply when discussing Konqueror and Dolphin, and they are unable to grasp simple facts like the one above for any length of time.

by riddle (not verified)

It ***IS*** there. Just choose view->panels->terminal, and you will have it. Check to see if the needed features are there before you complain!

by Cedric (not verified)

Why is it bad to mix file browsing, web browsing and document view browsing : this is the most powerfull functionnality. Internet is everywhere and you need it all the time. All the time my konqueror is full of web tab mixed with file management tab and I can switch easily from one to one. I can browse my dowloaded files while reading the documentation of how to use them in a splitted view.
I can bookmark my directory (but this is a web feature this should not be good for file managment isn't it ?)
With konqueror there is no barrier between my desktop and the web and that's what I like !

breadcrumb feature seems very good but I want it in konqueror and there are ways to know if the control is relevent or not. This is already done with the search field which is either google while in a webpage or a filter while in a file managment page.

And said in previous post I would prefer that efforts are done in improving Konqueror that killing it !

by Rich (not verified)

Heard of the expression. one step forward (two step back)?

Konqueror, has been in Kde for years.... Dolphin just this year.

As you know: Konqueror is a web browser, file manager and file viewer,
Console, Kio-Slaves and much more... and Dolphin is not

My Point being, since Konqueror is HERE in the NOW, why develop a new application for a "File Manager" Since we are have other File Managers
like: "Krusader" or "Midnight Commander" and of course Konqueror.

Konqueror does need improvements in Web Browsing, Java, Ajax, Meta-data,
and several other areas... BUT, it works very good for the most part, and its integrates well into KDE... plus, it works with other apps in KIO-Slave aspect.

So You say, You got very little for time, for development... Why not put your energy into Konqueror, instead of making something new, that is REALLY Not Needed... This could save more time, in the future.

I read, WHOM is going to do the work...Where the Time...etc
if KDE.org could break down, into parts, of WHAT Wrong with Konqueror,
and start to works on those problem areas, say a block at a time,
Then in a short period of time, to say in KDE 4.5, Konqueror will kick butt.

SO, if Dolphin comes up short, with some bugs in the future... are they going to come out with another file manager. ??? (case in point)

Don't Re-Invent the Wheel, Just fix it.

Cheer's

-R

by Ian MacGregor (not verified)

I have been using kde for years and I love konqueror as a file manager. I now use Kubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) and it has Dolphin as the default file manager. Now, I have tried Dolphin and I think someone made a huge mistake.

Dolphin lacks a tabbed UI. Any file manager worth it's salt will have a tabbed UI. If it doesn't, I can't use it.

Dolphin lacks a tree view (with buttons) on the right. Any file manager worth it's salt will have a tree view (and hopefully buttons). If it doesn't, I can't use it.

Konqueror, however, already has a tabbed UI and a tree view. So, I set the file association for inode/directory back to Konqueror and uninstalled Dolphin.

I can't understand why anyone would replace a feature-rich file manager with a file manager that lacks so many features. Is the kde dev team going to continue to develop Dolphin to bring it's feature set up to the equivalent of konquerors' feature set? If so, how do you justify wasting all that time and energy when you could have kept Konqeuror as the default file manager and spent that time and energy on something more important? Did the kde team start using gnome developers?

I won't use Dolphin, it's a piece of junk in my opinion, and a bad move to make it the default file manager. If konqueror disappears from kde, I'll either compile it myself or use/integrate Krusader.. but I won't use Dolphin. KDE is awesome, mainly because it isn't dumbed-down. But, this move to use Dolphin as the default file manager appears to be "Dumb-down: Step 1"

Oh, wait.. I have a good idea. If you want an excellent file browser that is feature-rich and integrates very well with KDE, why not use Konqueror as the default file browser? ;)

by turn_self_off (not verified)

here is what i would rather then create a fully new file manager:

1. make the profiles linked to protocol type. that is, make it so that when you have a profile set to web browsing, it will show up if i enter a url that starts with http://. similar for ftp, smb and all the others.

2. give the profiles a option to store its last state on exist. kinda like how firefox can save its tabs when you close it, and even recover them on a crash.

3. create a kpart or whatever that can show data about the file in a konqueror region, and turn the photobook one into a preview of the highlighted file (if any). maybe the data kpart can allow for editing of metadata for when one encounter a media file of some sort.

4. modify the location bar into one that can show a breadcrumb style path, if the user wants it to. but still allow him to type in one by adding a button to one end of the bar that turn it into the classical location bar. same should happen if the location hotkey is entered (F6, or ctrl+l on some browsers).

5. remove the home page part of the configuration window. instead, make it simple to set a home page pr profile (without the need to save the whole profile over again). hell, lets make the profiles fully editable without having to do the save thing (if one wants to adjust one setting without having to worry about at the same time overwriting some other that one wants to keep). and the home page button should bring one to the home page of the currently used profile (if it have one). so if im browsing the web (http) then i should be brought to the home page of the web browsing profile (those home page changing javascript codes and similar should alter the home page of the current in use profile btw). same with be doing some local file management, then i should be brought to my user directory.

all this and you basically have dolphin, as a konqueror profile. and can better avoid konqueror the file manager stepping on the toes of konqueror the web browser.