Aren’t terminals outdated now?
 

Now that Linux has a GUI why is it still a terminal savvy operating system? What I have done with a terminal I have done with a GUI, It was faster, less confusing and more users friendly. If there is something that only terminals can do please tell me.

next time your X won't start don't cry..
next time you just want to move/copy a file you drag it slightly to the wrong place or miss-click and accidentally delete it don't cry..

terminals do exactly what you want, and more to the point ARE SCRIPTABLE.

So no, they're not outdated, they do what you want, when you want with little fuss and no answering back or getting stuff wrong because your mouse was a pixel or two to the wrong place. They're more easily logged, they're more accountable.

that's just a START to why terminals can be better than GUIs.

Re: Aren�t terminals outdated now?
 

here's 3 things:

startx

echo Linux is not windows, and never will be

su -c cd / && rm -rf /etc && /sbin/poweroff

how are you going to get options when doing things? have 300 radio buttons ( that's efficient :D )?
here's the main question - who is going to spend their time ( for free) that they could be spending with their friends/family to code a gui for something because some people don't like command lines? if you want a gui, I'd recommend Windows XP.

I spend a lot of time remotely administering some Linux servers. Most of this administration is done while I am working in Windows. With terminal, I don't have to fuss with installing some X display client. Even if I were to do a remote display of X, it can be painfully slow when working on computers with very little up-bandwidth. Terminals are fast, easy. And, as was already mentioned, scriptable.

Re: Re: Aren�t terminals outdated now?
 

Ya see this code? I don't even know what the hell it means. :p The only way I can figure out what this means is by doing some reading / research. With all the work I have to do during the day, I don't have the time for this kind of reading / research.

Now... See the 'post reply' button in the corner? :D To me it doesn't take a lot of thought to figure out which one is simplier to use. A self explanitory button is much easier than command line for a user who just wants to use the computer, and would rather not try to pick it to pieces.

However, because safety and security is of great concern to me, I just do what I must and use Linux even though I would rather not to.

I'd say this - I almost never use the command line. I do most everything (except for compiling my Java) in KDE.

That said, I just went live this week with our first SLES production server, which replaced a Win2K server at my office. Does it even have a GUI loaded? No. Why would one want a GUI on a server?

So, that's the beauty of Linux - you have a choice. You can do almost everything in the GUI with KDE/Gnome/Enlightenment/XFCE... or you can do almost exactly the same things using the command prompt.

Re: Re: Re: Aren�t terminals outdated now?
 

start at the beginning and work your way back:

switch user with the following command (su -c), then remove (recursively and forcefully) the entire /etc directory ( rm -fr /etc) and power off the computer (/sbin/poweroff). personally, I'd recommend adding "echo "Have a great day :D" before /sbin/poweroff just to be a little more user friendly :D

huh :p

I'm faster at the CLI than in a GUI.. most people savvy with the CLI can outperform those who have to place their mouse and click to do things.. ;)

The Linux command is very powerful, more powerful than any GUI. And when your running servers, a GUI is not needed and is only a wasted resource.. why have it when you don't really need it in a lot of the cases..

The command line may be faster, but you still have to learn a lot just to use it. I work as a filmmaker. I have enough stuff to worry about. When I sit at a computer I would rather click through cute little buttons than read through a thick book full of command line code.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Aren�t terminals outdated now?
 

you devious bastard :D

But you are confusing what you prefer with what can be done.
Personally, I find it facinating that it is possible to connect to the internet, browse websites, read email, read news, burn CDs, listen to music and more all from the command line.
I feel no need to belittle one good application because I prefer another.
My feeling is that if you prefer to use GUI applications you should do so, but why do console applications need to be "BAD" for you to feel good about that decision?

like it's already been said, on servers except when you are a newbie you don't always want the GUI installed.
When a computer has a problem, you can fix it with commands and text editors? Excuse me but how do you run a gui , when the gui is broken????
sometimes i boot, ssh into a pc and shutdown, do i need the gui all the time, i don't think so!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Aren�t terminals outdated now?
 

I think he was the inspiration for the BOFH! :D