How does the community feel about the idea of a node-based file browser? I have been developing one (called Surkl), and I wanted to get an idea of how much demand there would be for such a thing. I would consider starting the process of trying to get it added to the KDE project if there is.
There source code is here, if anyone is interested in trying it out in its current state: GitHub - Arlen/Surkl: A node-based file browser for the desktop.
It is not very ergonomic, or usable, it seems to me.
And you have to ask yourself in which circumstances doesn’t fill the need of a user ? And Compared to other existing software ? What do users expect from this kind of software ?
It looks nice and creative by all means enjoy working on it, you can rejoice some users, but I don’t expect many.
I enjoy Filelite for a graphical representation of space; but files seem to be a strictly tree based system.
I don’t know, maybe my intelligence just doesn’t wrap around the concept too well.
This is pretty cool. It vaguely reminds me of the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes menu, but it really feels like I’ve seen this sort of node structure in some other piece of media before.
(Also just based on the title I initially thought this was going to be a file browser made in NodeJS instead, so it might be worth rephrasing it?)
By “ergonomic”, do you mean the circular design? or the node-based architecture? I actually experimented with non-circular design, but I didn’t find it very intuitive; it ended up being bunch of columns chained together, and taking up too much screen space.
Conventional file browsers don’t capture the underlying tree structure of a file system, as they show only a single level of the tree. The closest thing I know of is the Miller-Columns, but that’s not the same as a node-based file browsing.
Your points are well taken; i don’t think most users would find Surkl to be their cup of tea.
My first experience with node-based systems go back to the late 90s, early 2000s, with high-end desktop software applications of the VFX industry (things like Shake, Rayz, Maya, Softimage, etc). In fact, the “window manager” system in Surkl was heavily influenced by Rayz of Silicon Grail. However, besides Surkl, I’m not aware of any other node-base file browsers.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Looks like I can’t change the title, thanks anyway.
Dolphin has several tree views that can show multiple levels of the tree. Switch to details view for this.
You mean like whale?
Very cool. I love node/graph editors and spatial menus, spent many happy hours with vvvv, 3dsmax, blender and many others.
Any tool that lets me root through and work with my data in new ways is welcome.
Anyway, I’ve just had a little play about, will spend some time having a proper go with it.
I think it looks pretty cool. If i still had to look at large storage sets i think it would be useful. Now days i only manage one big backup server so I can only see my self using it on my own system.
I feel If you have never seen a filesystem as well depending on how young the user a tree look makes little sense. And nod just might click for some. For those that don’t see a point the thing to take away is, everyone see and under stands things in there own way. I mainly mean this from a visual stand point.
If the end product even has some sort of touch mode (big buttons/labels) I could see it being vary useful to a younger age set.
