Can I run Linux with no GUI?

mbsc18 · 11-21-2003, 01:56 PM

Can I run Linux with no GUI? All the software I see coming out for Linux is GUI (OpenOffice, Evolution, etc.). Are there character-based equivalents for popular software categories? Sure I can get my e-mail with pine but what about office suites, etc. Linux came from the pre-GUI Unix right? Can I survive and get real work done in Linux without ever using a GUI?

RolledOat · 11-21-2003, 02:03 PM

There are lots of text editors out there, vi, vim, emacs, pico, etc. As for word processors, I don't think so (besides above...are these considered word processors?). There are command line mp3players, web browsers, etc, and yes, you can easily run Linux without a GUI. The big question, why have only one console open, when you can start an X window session, and open 10 consoles?

R.O.

P.S. Most Linux servers won't have X running, or even installed.

fancypiper · 11-21-2003, 02:18 PM

Yes, but don't expect "suites", you use different tools for different jobs. These links should get you started.

Living Linux

Linux and the Tools Philosophy

The Writer's Workbench

mbsc18 · 11-21-2003, 02:19 PM

Sometimes I sit and fantasize about a really reliable OS. Didn't things used to be more reliable when it was just character-based (or is my memory short?) What if we took what we know now about hardware, memory, etc. and made a 'Super-DOS'. But then I thought Linux could be my character-based Super-DOS but I'm not sure if there are enough charater-based apps to get anything done. According to your reply it sounds like there are.

Use X to run consoles - is that cheating?

Thx,
Eric

fancypiper · 11-21-2003, 02:24 PM

I like X because you can run more than 12 x terminals, unlike pure console.

fancypiper · 11-21-2003, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RolledOat
As for word processors, I don't think so (besides above...are these considered word processors?). There are command line mp3players, web browsers, etc, and yes, you can easily run Linux without a GUI. The big question, why have only one console open, when you can start an X window session, and open 10 consoles?

You can run as many terminals as you have F<N> keys if you configure that way. Standard installs have 6 virtual consoles (alt-F1 through alt-F6)

In Linux/Unix, you use text processing rather than a "word processing" (some sort of WYSIWYG editor) program.

trickykid · 11-21-2003, 03:30 PM

I have 6 machines running Linux.. two of them have X installed.. Does that answer your question?

Baldorg · 11-21-2003, 05:59 PM

You can even play Quake 3 in the CLI...