I occasionally need to know the names of programs. I asked here about “Run as Administrator” being added to the context menu (like in Windows), and the response was basically “can’t be easily done”. an example is if I wish to edit a config file it cannot be done without accessing the terminal. Knowing the name “gedit” is the real name of “text editor” is useful information in this use-case.

I am not afraid of the terminal, but I would never prefer it over a GUI. is there a way to find a program name/install location from right-clicking-details (or something)? So then I could open a terminal and “sudo programname”?

(As an aside, I prefer Linux overall, but every distro I’ve tried has a strong sense that if you’re using the GUI you don’t need or deserve admin controls. Program names in the menus are almost always different from their names in the terminal, and many what I would consider normal system settings, like the ability to act as an administrator, find where a program is installed are terminal only.)

This is Ubuntu with all the default stuff


EDIT: I always expect a degree of hostility and talking-down from the desktop Linux community, but the number of people in this thread telling me I am using my own computer that I bought with my own money in a way they don’t prefer while ignoring my question is just absurd and frankly should be deeply embarrassing for all of us. I have strongly defended the desktop Linux community for decades, but this experience has left a sour taste in my mouth.

Thank you to the few of you who tried to assist without judgement or assumptions.

EDIT: As usual, it can be easily done.

  • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
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    7 months ago

    KDE Plasma.

    Really, GNOME is not a good Desktop for poweruser tasks like that. Either oversimplified GUI or terminal.

    • JediwanOP
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      7 months ago

      I like GNOME for it’s extensions, but haven’t tried KDE since before Plasma. Is it highly customizable on par with GNOME?

      • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
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        7 months ago

        Honestly. The Fedora change proposal sounded kinda odd for me, but really?? GNOME sucks?

        GNOME lacks support for so much, so that either straight to Terminal with all the complications, or random Extensions (arbitrary code!) that will break on updates, or just “dont use it”.