# GNU Midnight Commander

> a free cross-platform orthodox file manager and a clone of Norton Commander

**Wikidata**: [Q1340000](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1340000)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Commander)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gnu-midnight-commander

## Summary
GNU Midnight Commander is a free cross-platform orthodox file manager and a clone of Norton Commander. Created in 1994 by Miguel de Icaza, it is a text-based application that functions as a GNU package and part of the GNOME Project. The software utilizes the ncurses library to provide a visual interface on Unix-like, Windows, macOS, and other operating systems.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 1994
- **Creator:** Miguel de Icaza
- **Current Maintainer:** Yury V. Zaytsev
- **Latest Stable Version:** 4.8.33 (released January 23, 2025)
- **License:** Free software (part of the GNU Project)
- **Type:** Orthodox file manager, console application
- **Interface:** Text-based user interface (TUI) using the ncurses library
- **Platforms:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix-like operating systems, GNU/Hurd, ReactOS
- **Parent Projects:** GNU Project (preferred), The GNOME Project
- **Source Code Repository:** GitHub (MidnightCommander/mc)
- **Official Website:** https://midnight-commander.org
- **Programming Language:** C (implied by "programming language" reference to Open Hub, though specific language not explicitly named in text, the reference exists)
- **Localization:** Available in English, Russian, and 56 other languages (58 total)
- **Mailing Lists:** Hosted at lists.midnight-commander.org (moved from GNOME lists in October 2022)
- **Different From:** GNOME Commander

## FAQs
**Who created GNU Midnight Commander and when?**
GNU Midnight Commander was created by Mexican free software developer Miguel de Icaza in 1994. It is currently maintained by Yury V. Zaytsev.

**What operating systems does Midnight Commander support?**
It is a cross-platform application that runs on Microsoft Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix-like operating systems, GNU/Hurd, and ReactOS. It is also available as a console application.

**Is Midnight Commander free software?**
Yes, GNU Midnight Commander is free software distributed under terms that allow users to run, study, change, and distribute the software. It is an official part of the GNU Project.

**How can I install Midnight Commander on Linux or BSD?**
The software is packaged for numerous systems including Arch Linux (`mc`), Fedora (`mc`), Gentoo (`app-misc/mc`), Ubuntu (`mc`, `mc-data`), Debian (`mc`, `mc-data`), openSUSE (`mc`), FreeBSD (`misc/mc`, `misc/mc-nox11`), OpenBSD (`misc/mc`), and NetBSD (`sysutils/mc46`, `sysutils/mc`).

**What is the latest version of Midnight Commander?**
As of January 2025, the latest stable version is 4.8.33. The project has a long history of releases, with previous stable versions including 4.8.32 (August 2024) and 4.8.31 (January 2024).

**What is the user interface like?**
Midnight Commander features a text-based user interface built using the ncurses programming library. It functions as an orthodox file manager, modeled as a clone of the Norton Commander interface.

## Why It Matters
GNU Midnight Commander matters because it preserves the "orthodox file manager" paradigm—a dual-pane, keyboard-driven interface that maximizes efficiency for file management—originally popularized by Norton Commander in the DOS era. By bringing this functionality to modern, free, and cross-platform environments (including Linux, macOS, and Windows), it provides a critical tool for system administrators and power users who require speed and control without a graphical user interface. As a long-standing component of the GNU Project, it exemplifies the sustainability and versatility of free software, remaining actively developed for over three decades.

## Notable For
- **Longevity:** Active development since 1994, with continuous updates through version 4.8.33 in 2025.
- **Cross-Platform Reach:** Capable of running on a diverse range of systems from standard Unix-like OSs and Windows to niche systems like GNU/Hurd and ReactOS.
- **Ubiquitous Packaging:** Available in the default repositories of almost every major Linux and BSD distribution, as well as via Homebrew, MacPorts, and Guix.
- **Terminal Efficiency:** Distinguished by its text-based interface (ncurses) that allows for full file management capabilities within a terminal emulator.
- **GNOME Heritage:** Historically associated with The GNOME Project, though it remains a distinct text-based application separate from the GNOME Commander graphical file manager.

## Body

### Overview and History
GNU Midnight Commander (often abbreviated as `mc`) is a free software orthodox file manager and a clone of Norton Commander. It was founded in 1994 by Miguel de Icaza, a Mexican free software developer. The software is classified as a console application and a GNU package, falling under the free software movement. It is also associated with The GNOME Project, a Free Software community founded in August 1997. The project's copyright status is copyrighted, but it is distributed as free software.

### Technical Architecture
The software is built as a text-based user interface application, relying on the `ncurses` programming library for its rendering. It is classified specifically as an orthodox file manager, a design philosophy characterized by a dual-pane interface where the user interacts with files primarily via keyboard shortcuts. The source code is maintained in a Git repository, with the preferred repository hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc.git`.

### Platform Support
GNU Midnight Commander is designed to be cross-platform. It supports a wide array of operating systems including:
*   **Microsoft Windows:** Family of computer operating systems developed by Microsoft.
*   **macOS:** Operating system for Apple computers.
*   **BSD:** Unix-like operating systems based on the Berkeley Software Distribution.
*   **Unix-like operating systems:** Any operating system that behaves similarly to Unix.
*   **GNU/Hurd:** The GNU operating system based on the Hurd kernel.
*   **ReactOS:** A free software Windows NT-like operating system.

### Development and Versions
The project has seen extensive versioning, with releases dating back to 1998 (version 4.1.35). Development has been continuous, with recent stable versions maintained by Yury V. Zaytsev.
*   **Recent Releases:** Version 4.8.31 (Jan 2024), 4.8.32 (Aug 2024), and 4.8.33 (Jan 2025).
*   **Historical Context:** Version 4.8.0 was released in October 2011, marking a significant era in the 4.8 branch.
*   **Quality Assurance:** The project employs continuous integration, utilizing services like Travis CI (referenced in `.travis.yml`).

### Distribution and Packaging
Midnight Commander is widely distributed across package management systems:
*   **Arch Linux:** `mc`, `mc-git` (AUR).
*   **Fedora:** `mc`.
*   **Gentoo:** `app-misc/mc`.
*   **Guix:** `mc`.
*   **Ubuntu/Debian:** `mc`, `mc-data`.
*   **openSUSE:** `mc`.
*   **FreeBSD:** `misc/mc`, `misc/mc-nox11`.
*   **OpenBSD:** `misc/mc`.
*   **NetBSD:** `sysutils/mc46`, `sysutils/mc`.
*   **macOS:** Available via MacPorts (`mc`) and Homebrew (`midnight-commander`).

### Community and Communication
The project supports a multilingual community, with the user interface and documentation available in English, Russian, and 56 other languages (totaling 58). Communication channels have evolved over time:
*   **Mailing Lists:** Historically, lists were hosted at `mail.gnome.org` (archives for `mc` and `mc-devel`). These were retired in October 2022.
*   **Current Lists:** The primary mailing lists are now hosted at `lists.midnight-commander.org`, with separate lists for end users (`mc`) and developers (`mc-devel`).

### Metadata and Identifiers
The entity is recognized by numerous identifiers across the software ecosystem:
*   **Wikidata:** 
*   **Freebase ID:** `/m/03lycq`
*   **Open Hub:** `mc`
*   **GNU Savannah:** `mc`
*   **SourceForge:** `mcwin32`
*   **Stack Exchange Tag:** `https://stackoverflow.com/tags/mc`
*   **AlternativeTo:** `midnight-commander`
*   **Repology:** `mc`
*   **ProLinux.de DBapp ID:** 420

### Related Entities
GNU Midnight Commander is distinct from GNOME Commander, which is a separate graphical file manager. It is also related to the broader free software ecosystem, being a direct descendant of the design principles established by Norton Commander. The project's image is hosted on Wikimedia Commons, and it has a significant presence on Wikipedia, available in 29 languages.

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [The mc Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/mc/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
3. [Midnight Commander 4.8.13 released. 2014](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/mc-devel/2014-September/msg00000.html)
4. [Release 4.8.13. 2014](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.13)
5. [Midnight Commander 4.8.14 released. 2015](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/mc-devel/2015-March/msg00001.html)
6. [Release 4.8.14. 2015](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.14)
7. [Release 4.8.15. 2015](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.15)
8. [Midnight Commander 4.8.16 released](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/mc-devel/2016-March/msg00010.html)
9. [Release 4.8.16. 2016](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.16)
10. [Midnight Commander 4.8.17 released. 2016](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/mc-devel/2016-May/msg00002.html)
11. [Release 4.8.17. 2016](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.17)
12. [Release 4.8.18. 2016](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.18)
13. [Midnight Commander 4.8.19 released. 2017](https://lists.midnight-commander.org/pipermail/mc-devel/2017-March/011004.html)
14. [Release 4.8.20. 2017](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.20)
15. [Midnight Commander 4.8.20 released. 2017](https://mail.gnome.org/archives/mc-devel/2017-November/msg00003.html)
16. [Release 4.6.1. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.1)
17. [Release 4.6.2. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.2)
18. [Release 4.6.99. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.99)
19. [Release 4.6.99.1. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.99.1)
20. [Release 4.6.99.2. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.99.2)
21. [Release 4.6.99.3. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.6.99.3)
22. [Release 4.7.0. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0)
23. [Release 4.7.0.1. 2009](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.1)
24. [Release 4.7.0.2. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.2)
25. [Release 4.7.0.3. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.3)
26. [Release 4.7.0.4. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.4)
27. [Release 4.7.0.5. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.5)
28. [Release 4.7.0.6. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.6)
29. [Release 4.7.0.7. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.7)
30. [Release 4.7.0.8. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.8)
31. [Release 4.7.0.9. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.9)
32. [Release 4.7.0.10. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.0.10)
33. [Release 4.7.1. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.1)
34. [Release 4.7.2. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.2)
35. [Release 4.7.3. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.3)
36. [Release 4.7.4. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.4)
37. [Release 4.7.5. 2010](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5)
38. [Release 4.7.5.1. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.1)
39. [Release 4.7.5.2. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.2)
40. [Release 4.7.5.3. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.3)
41. [Release 4.7.5.4. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.4)
42. [Release 4.7.5.5. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.5)
43. [Release 4.7.5.6. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.7.5.6)
44. [Release 4.8.0. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.0)
45. [Release 4.8.1. 2011](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1)
46. [Release 4.8.1.1. 2012](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1.1)
47. [Release 4.8.1.2. 2012](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1.2)
48. [Release 4.8.1.3. 2012](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1.3)
49. [Release 4.8.1.4. 2012](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1.4)
50. [Release 4.8.1.5. 2012](https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/releases/tag/4.8.1.5)