I would like to configure my Linux system to open graphical programs from a command prompt. I would like to be able to type "kwrite textfile" from the console and get the editor on that screen, without seeing any taskbar, menu, clock, preferably even without a close or minimize button. I'm going for something like from the old DOS days when I could type "edit config.sys" and use a graphical editor, then go back to text commands immediately after exiting. I would like to be able to switch between virtual terminals running different graphical programs as different users. So pressing alt-F1, logging in, and typing "firefox" would show me a browser as a normal user; but I could press alt-F2, log in as root, then use Konquerer as root - and be able to switch back and forth between the two. I want to do away with the taskbars and graphical login screens in window managers and just use X to display individual graphical programs on separate virtual terminals. It strikes me that X must have worked this way before it became more sophisticated, but I haven't been using Linux for that long.

Is this sort of thing possible with Linux and X?

Would it require running multiple X servers at the same time?

Are there any window managers or Linux distros out there setup like this?

Are there any keywords describing this kind of setup that I could google to get more info on this?

Well, you can do 'GUIEditor textfile' but I think I see your overall plan. You might try ratpoison or you might try changing your runlevel to console (usually 3) and then starting X with
xinit /path/to/editor -geometry 1024x768 -display :1 -- /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1
xinit /path/to/browser -geometry 1024x768 -display :2 -- /usr/X11R6/bin/X :2
and so on. (Assuming they accept 'geometry' args and that your display is 1024x768.)

Seems kinda weird, but I guess it'd do.

You can do it, but you'd have to run multiple xservers.

Thanks to you both. Now I know where to start.

>Is this sort of thing possible with Linux and X?
Definately, I've seen things like this done before.

>Would it require running multiple X servers at the same time?
Yep.

Sorry I can't point you to a guide or anything; I don't have any handy. I know it can be done though, I've seen things like this done seperately and you wish to combine them all.

Just about anything is possible in linux

?????

What the hell?

In other words you want a console with graphical support right?

Well thats very easy; just don't use a windowmanger or desktop, just use one xterm or whatever.

edit your .xinitrc or .xsession file;
comment all the other lines and add the line "exec /usr/X11R6/xterm". When X11 starts up, all you're going to see is one xterm, nothing else, no windows, no borders, no taskbar, just the xterm console.

What do you care if that's what he wants to do. One of the greatest advantages to desktop linux is configuring it to suit your needs...not a prepackaged environment of someone else's idea of your needs.

But he wants to have multiple apps on multiple VTs and switch between them. That would give him (basically) one app at a time on top of the xterm on one display. Plus, he'd have to create some functions I think, because he wants the true console to just pop up a graphical app and then go away again. I don't think he wants to run X or an xterm as such, and especially not launch particular apps from an xterm in X. He just wants any GUI app to come and go from the command line.

well it won't work without X, that's for sure. Of course there is always twin...but that's not quit the same. And yeah it sounds annoying to me as well, but I have so many UI quirks that I am wont to argue with what ppl want

Yeah - he needs X for this but I think he wants to pretend it isn't there. And I think twin would be the opposite of what he wants. I understand the impulse I think - to just get away from windows - not just Windows - and all the menus and icons and widgets and doohickeys, but still have graphical apps when needed. Twin would give him windowing mess without giving him graphics.

Amen - my UI is held together with so many little scriptlets and chewing gum and baling wire to get things how I want them that if I lost my configs I don't think I could ever put it back together.

digiot accurately describes what I'm looking for. I want to force myself to use text commands more often so I can get used to them. And the simplicity of one gui program at a time appeals to me. I only use about five gui programs regularly at this point, so I'll see if I can write a script for each that will allow me to do this with short commands. I see now that you can specify resolutions and tty numbers with options when launching X.

I was actually hoping this would be so simple it would be a "what the hell?" kind of thing. Like it might just be a matter of setting something to "=off" in a config file. But it seems that multiple simultaneous users and vt's makes it tricky. Oh well, a good reason to learn more about Linux. Thanks again.

You can disable all GUI and use ALT-Fx and get a new shell
... and switch between them by hitting ALT-F1/2/3/4....... / to your hearts desire.
Edit the RC<n> file and don't even start the X :-))

Sorry for my impatience, I misread, you also want several virtual terminals correct?

Well thats not a problem either, BadWM might be what your looking for.

It has no decorations what-so-ever except for a 1 pixel window border, and it is controlled by the keyboard. It has no menus or taskbar, just one command for launching an xterm, (default: alt-enter). It also make use of virtual desktops, which you can switch to using the Alt-number keys.

Screenshot: http://badwm.sourceforge.net/screenshots/work.png
homepage: http://badwm.sourceforge.net/