Double Commander vs Ranger

You can use same tool in all desktop OS environments.

If the developer loses interest there is at least the possibility that someone else will pick up the torch.

Lots of options allow you to configure DC the way it suits you best: Tools, Fonts, Colors, Hotkeys, Mouse, Fileviews, Plugins, Layout, Toolbars, Tabs, Icons etc.

Save shortcuts to folders. Organize them in a treeview with submenus. Define a name and sorting for each entry.

so you can use documentation from Total Commander for writing plugins. WCX (packer), WDX (content), WFX (file system), WLX (lister).

For instance, the 'Settings | Layout' pane is quasi-identical to TCs.

Although it is lightweight and simple to use, it can do very sophisticated tasks, like copying files from directories which have a certain extension or file size or have a certain text pattern in them. Also, it's very customizable and stable.

It's all a matter of perspective. I'm not for an argument about IDE's, frameworks etc, but to me that's a big plus. I think it should be a tie, it's either a pro or a con or should that be neither a pro nor a con. It just depends on context.

Which makes for a good choice of file explorer for those that use machines without a GUI.

There is no need for icons of files if headings are used. Previews of text documents and a simple design creates and efficient workflow.

Ranger has Vim-like keybindings which help a lot in increasing efficiency and speed up the workflow.

Ranger allows the use of various scripts for calling on individual or multiple files, for file previews, or for other operations.

In commands.py the "my_edit"-function can be extended to do whatever in python can be done. Target files can be the file under the cursor (self.fm.thisfile.path), the files marked/selected in the current tab (self.fm.thistab.get_selection() ) and the files in the copy-buffer (add/remove: ya, yr) (respectively the delete-buffer: add/remove da/dr) (both: self.fm.copy_buffer).
The most appropriate list of files can be found out automatically, like so:
if self.fm.copy_buffer:
for file in self.fm.copy_buffer:
...
elif self.fm.thistab.get_selection():
for file in self.fm.thistab.get_selection():
...
else:
file = self.fm.thisfile.path
...

Unlike other terminal file managers, Ranger can preview many files, including text files, archives, etc, but also pdf files, pictures and videos.

Makes it easy to jump to any specific folder locations you work with.

Ranger can use w3m to preview images in terminal through framebuffer.

This software is super fast and responsive in navigation.

Supports any number of viewports on folders side by side.

This may fall under "File preview", but it is a very powerful feature for PDF files in particular.