Searching for files on Linux can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you have thousands of documents, images, or configurations scattered across your system. While most file managers provide a built-in search feature, they are often slower or limited in functionality. This is where Catfish comes in—a lightweight, fast, and user-friendly file search tool that integrates seamlessly with your Linux desktop.
What is Catfish?
Catfish is a GTK-based file search application designed to quickly locate files and directories on your system. It acts as a graphical frontend for search engines like find and locate, making it both powerful and simple to use. It is desktop-agnostic, meaning you can run it on XFCE, GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, or any other desktop environment without issues.
One of Catfish’s strongest points is its balance between speed and simplicity. Instead of overwhelming users with complex options, it provides a clean search bar, optional filters, and instant results. This makes it ideal for both beginners and advanced users who just need to quickly find files.
Key Features
- Fast search powered by
locateandfind - Simple GTK interface, easy for beginners
- Filters for file types, modification dates, and more
- Integration with default file managers (open, copy, or delete directly)
- Lightweight and resource-friendly
How to Install Catfish
Catfish is available in most Linux distributions’ official repositories. Here’s how you can install it:
- Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install catfish - Fedora:
sudo dnf install catfish - Arch Linux / Manjaro:
sudo pacman -S catfish - OpenSUSE:
sudo zypper install catfish
If you prefer to build from source, you can find the latest release on its official XFCE GitLab page, but for most users, the package manager method is the simplest and fastest.
How to Uninstall Catfish
If you decide you no longer need Catfish, removing it is straightforward:
- Ubuntu / Debian / Mint:
sudo apt remove catfish - Fedora:
sudo dnf remove catfish - Arch / Manjaro:
sudo pacman -R catfish - OpenSUSE:
sudo zypper remove catfish
Using Catfish
Once installed, you can launch Catfish from your application menu or by running catfish in a terminal. The interface is straightforward: type your query into the search bar, press Enter, and results will appear almost instantly.
You can refine your search using filters, such as restricting results to a specific folder, filtering by file type (documents, images, audio, etc.), or sorting by date. Results can be opened directly in your preferred file manager, copied, or deleted with just a right-click.
Behind the scenes, Catfish uses the locate database, which means the first search may prompt you to update the index. Running updatedb (with root privileges) keeps your search results accurate and up-to-date.
Discover more tools: Best File Managers for Linux
Why Use Catfish?
While you can always use find or locate in the terminal, Catfish provides a friendlier and more efficient way of handling searches. It’s especially useful for users who are not comfortable with the command line or who prefer quick visual navigation.
It doesn’t try to replace your file manager, but instead complements it. If you frequently misplace files or just want a faster way to navigate your system, Catfish is a tool worth keeping.
Conclusion
Catfish is one of those simple yet indispensable utilities for Linux users. It doesn’t take much space, runs fast, and does exactly what it promises: helps you find files quickly. Whether you’re a beginner who wants an easy-to-use search tool or an advanced user who appreciates speed, Catfish deserves a place in your Linux setup.
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