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Can you use Linux today without the terminal? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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I have used Arch for >13 years (btw) and use the terminal every single session. I also work with Linux servers daily, so I tried the other families with DEs (Debian/Ubuntu, RHEL/CentOS/AlmaLinux/Fedora).

I'm comfortable (and prefer) doing everything with CLI tools. For me, it's a bit difficult to convert my Windows friends, as they all see me as some kind of hackerman.

What's the landscape like nowadays, in terms of terminal requirements?

Bonus question: Which distribution is the most user-friendly while still updated packages? Does anything provide a similar experience to Arch's amazing AUR?

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[–] 4 points 7 months ago (8 children)

I don't know why you would want to use linux without the terminal? I mean, you can... but you'll be limited if you want to do something special or fix a problem. It's not like you have to know how to code or anything. Often you can copy the commands right into it... It's really no problem.

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  • [–] [S] 7 points 7 months ago (7 children)

    People who have been using Windows their entire lives simply get intimidated

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    Can confirm, I helped a friend put Fedora on their old laptop to give it life again. Even though I wrote them instructions, once it came time for the terminal stuff, they video called me, lol. They love using that laptop now, though! They were in their early 20s for reference.

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  • [–] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    I really do think that's their problem, and software shouldn't cater to people who are afraid of checks notes typing. There can be real accessibility reasons why some users may require graphical tools due to various disabilities, but I don't think it's reasonable to feed into irrational fears of terminals when they can just copy paste in commands. It's not programming, it's very simple to understand the syntax of any command the average user might have to use (ie they're not doing scripting or anything like that).

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago (1 child)

    I think a lot of people are just scared because the terminal is so much more powerful than the gui. The gui won't let you delete the system but the terminal is happy to let you. People shouldn't be so scared but they are and I think the use of phones over PCs will exaggerate the problem.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    The terminal lets you delete the system with the same checks as GUIs, i.e. you'd be prompted for a privilege escalation password... If you delete random user files in the terminal then you can do that in a graphical file browser too. Just don't run random commands without knowing what they do.

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