nautilus

What this repository is

Nautilus is the project behind the Files app, the file browser for the GNOME desktop, and it is internally known by its historical name nautilus. The GitHub repository is a read only mirror of the canonical project hosted on GNOME's GitLab, so the GitHub copy exists for visibility and easy cloning rather than as the place where code changes are accepted. The README points contributors to the GitLab issue tracking system for bug reports and to GNOME Discourse for informal discussion under the nautilus tag. Only the latest upstream version of Files is supported, and the README asks users to try the Flatpak nightly build before filing issues so that reports are reproducible and free of downstream distribution changes.

Runtime dependencies and extensions

The app relies on a few external components at runtime. Bubblewrap is used for security reasons, LocalSearch is expected to be set up with all features enabled and provides fast search, metadata extraction, starred files and batch renaming, and xdg user dirs gtk creates the default bookmarks and handles localization. For developers who want to extend the file manager, the libnautilus extension API is documented on GNOME's pages, and those writing extensions in Python should consult the nautilus python documentation. Feature requests follow a process tied to the GNOME design team, with major changes expected to start as a Discourse discussion and mockups requiring design team approval before implementation. Smaller, well defined enhancements may use the shortcoming template directly.

Status and licensing

The GitHub mirror carries 414 stars and 130 forks with no open issues tracked on GitHub, since issues belong on GitLab. The default branch is main, and the license is GPL 3.0, which fits a core GNOME desktop component. The practical takeaway is that this GitHub repository is a convenience mirror: clone it to read the code or build locally, but treat GitLab as the source of truth for issues, merge requests and releases. The Flatpak nightly is the recommended way to test the newest code, and distribution specific packages should only be used once a problem cannot be reproduced in the nightly.

Editorial conclusion

Nautilus is a GPL 3.0 read only GitHub mirror of the GNOME Files app with 414 stars, and its actual development, issues and releases live on GNOME's GitLab with a recommended Flatpak nightly for testing.