Some Linux tools bring back memories as soon as you open them. Midnight Commander is one of those tools. Its familiar blue panels, text menus, and function keys recall the days when managing files in a terminal was an ordinary part of using a computer.
Known simply as mc, GNU Midnight Commander is a terminal file manager with two directory panels. Open your source folder on one side and the destination on the other, then browse and copy files using the keyboard.
For anyone who remembers DOS-era file managers, this layout feels familiar. The available actions appear along the bottom of the screen, and the keyboard does most of the work. There is something satisfying about seeing both folders at once and moving through them without repeatedly typing ls and cd.
Midnight Commander also remains useful when working on a Linux server through SSH. It runs inside the terminal, so you can browse directories, inspect files, and organise folders without opening a graphical desktop. It includes a file viewer and an editor, too.
How to install Midnight Commander on Ubuntu
Install it using Ubuntu’s package manager:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mc
Then launch it:
mc
Start with these shortcuts, documented in the official manual:
Key
Action
Tab
Switch between panels
F1
Open help
F3
View a file
F4
Edit a file
F5
Copy files
F6
Move or rename files
F7
Create a directory
F8
Delete files
F10
Quit
Modern desktops have changed how we manage files, but this old style still has its appeal. Two panels, clear actions, and a keyboard within reach are enough to make routine file management comfortable. If you have not used Midnight Commander for years, try typing mc again.
I was obsessed with optimization and efficiency because I was poor back then. Couldn’t afford a decent computer with a lot of storage space and speed. Thus, efficiency was everything to me.
Although there are attempts to supress it, WGAfakap was famous and it was distributed through message boards and was being used across the world.
With careful searching, archived message board threads explaining how to use WGAfakap can still be found. The most recent of these discussions date to 2010, four years after its initial development
Most WGAfakap users probably almost reached 40 years old now. Give a shout out if you’ve heard or ever used WGAfakap!
Sometimes I need to check a Linux server when I’m away from my laptop. For small jobs, an Android SSH client is enough. LobiShell, developed by Lobianco Home Lab, is one option worth looking at.
It runs SSH sessions from an Android phone and also supports Mosh, SCP file transfers, port forwarding and SSH key management. These are useful features when you manage more than one Linux machine.
Advantages: LobiShell supports putty based private key format.
Connecting to your servers
LobiShell lets you save server connections and manage identities. A typical SSH connection needs the server address, SSH port, username and a password or private key. Once connected, you can use the terminal for commands such as:
uptime
free -h
df -h
docker ps
systemctl status nginx
The saved connections screen makes it easier to move between several machines without re-entering their details.
LobiShell connection manager, showing saved hosts and identities.
Finding devices on your network
LobiShell includes a network scanner that can help find devices on a local network. This is handy when you have several servers, small PCs or other machines in a homelab. You should still verify the host’s SSH fingerprint before trusting a new connection.
LobiShell local network scan and discovered devices.
SSH, Mosh and file transfers
Regular SSH works well on a stable connection. LobiShell also supports Mosh, which is designed to cope better with intermittent connections and network changes. Mosh requires server-side setup, so it is not a drop-in replacement on every host.
SCP support lets you upload or download files, while SSH port forwarding can provide access to an internal service through an encrypted connection. For example, that can be useful when a web interface is restricted to the server’s private network.
Authentication and saved commands
The Identity Store manages SSH keys and passwords. LobiShell also advertises FIDO2 authentication with compatible hardware security keys. It has command snippets, too, so commands you frequently run can be saved instead of typed each time.
For sensitive servers, I would still use key-based login, verify host keys, and avoid exposing SSH directly to the public internet when a VPN is available.
Terminal appearance and backups
There are settings for colours, fonts and interface layout. That matters more than it sounds on a small touchscreen, especially when you have to read logs or work in a terminal for a while.
LobiShell app colour and theme settings.
LobiShell terminal appearance and interface options.
For moving settings between devices, LobiShell supports WebDAV synchronization, including compatible services such as Nextcloud. It also supports local peer-to-peer synchronization and exportable backups, with optional AES-256-GCM encryption.
LobiShell as SSH Client
If you only open an SSH terminal once in a while, a simple client may be sufficient. LobiShell becomes more interesting if you manage several servers and want saved identities, snippets, file transfers and synchronization in the same app.
The limitations are mostly those of working on a phone. Long commands and detailed configuration work are still easier with a keyboard and larger screen. But for checking a service, reading logs or restarting a container, it is a practical tool to keep installed.
Melty is currently free for Windows. Choose a mashup and press Play. According to its website, the app downloads the mod, handles the required setup and starts the game. Multiplayer mashups also provide invite links for friends.
The AI part comes into creating your own mashup. Melty provides instructions for coding agents such as Claude Code or Codex. You describe your idea, and the agent works on building and publishing it.
You still need to own the required games. This looks interesting for players who enjoy experimenting with mods and unusual game combinations.
I have released UiTM Korporat 2.0.0, a collection of 21 skins for Minecraft Bedrock featuring UiTM-inspired corporate attire, graduation robes and other characters. You can preview the skins and download the skinpack from the website.
The skinpack is accompanied by an academic article on representing UiTM corporate identity and attire through Minecraft avatars. Read the accompanying article.
Some services require you to generate random hex numbers to be used as a password or random auth token for authentication. The simplest method is to use this openssl cli command
