console usage for newbie
 

hi, i am brand new in the linux department.
I run my programs from the console, but, my question is, if I have 20 programs running will I have to have 20 order-windows open in my main console window?. for example: user@local: > "program" and my rpogram runs, but, if i want to have my prompt back again without killing the program running what should i do?
I know I might sound quite an idiot but i am really at the very begining of learning linux.
Thanx a lot

You can run it in background by using & after program name..
For example
, or use Ctrl + Z to get back to the command prompt example:
You will see sth like this
writing fg 1 will bring back mc

i'd suggest that you;re not really clear on what you're asking. what you seem to be asking (imo) is how to run multiple console based applications without a lot of terminals. in which case you can use tools like "screen" which allow detachable sessions to be set up, letting you reconnect to old sessions when you wish. if these programs aren't console interactive at all though, just stick "&" on the end of the command line and it'll run in the background and return you to a prompt immediately.

works
 

ah, thanx, thats what i was looking for