With the dawn of the graphical user interface in the 1980s, people have been saying that text-mode apps are outdated.Using the terminal might seem archaic, but power users and developers still reach for it when they want to get to work.TUI apps are distraction-free No annoying notifications One great thing that text-based apps have over their graphical counterparts is that they're easy to ignore.
A chat app such as Slack or Discord will flood you with notifications that scream, "Pay attention to me, right now!" If you're trying to get work done, this can be frustrating.I first started using the internet in the '90s, so IRC remains close to my heart.Its use has declined sharply since its peak, but its remaining user base is important: a lot of open-source development is coordinated over IRC.
I can let Weechat run in the background, ignoring it when I'm doing important work like writing this article, and dip into it when I want to see what people have said or say something.The terminal will still beep when someone mentions me, but this is likely to be actually important.TUI apps have small footprints They run great on older machines One reason Linux is popular for reviving old machines is that lightweight applications are available.
Text-based apps are the lightest of all.I prefer working in apps to measuring their memory or CPU usage, but comparing them in tools like top, htop, or Task Manager can be instructive.If you're on a resource-constrained machine, such as an old laptop, using text-based programs can help you wring more use out of a machine you might have to consign to a recycler or, more likely, into a pile of abandoned devices.
You can jump into your work immediately Don't waste time loading Close What I really like about text-based apps is that I can jump into my work immediately.No splash screens or loading screens to break my train of thought.This is why you should seriously consider text-based apps for things you do frequently.
If you're a programmer or even a writer, you'll spend most of your time in an editor.Vim might be famous for being hard to exit if you don't understand its modal command structure, but your goal should be to stay in it as much as possible.While these apps might have steeper learning curves, the effort you spend learning how they work will pay off.
With Vim, you can move mountains in a few keystrokes.You can script text-based apps Automate your workflow Another hidden benefit of TUI apps is that you can automate them.The classic way to automate a command-line app is to use a shell script or a batch file.
Since I'm more familiar with the Linux world, I'm more comfortable with the former.Linux command-line programs can redirect input and output.You can redirect input to a file, and many programs can take input from other files.
You can also send the output of one command into the input of another.This is where I/O redirection becomes powerful.You can see Brian Kernighan demonstrate this on the original Unix in a 1982 promotional video.
Kernighan improvises a spell-checker out of previously written programs.Even interactive programs can be automated.Programs like Vim come with their own scripting languages; others have their own Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
This lets you create custom functions to automate a workflow by "gluing" existing components together without building a new program from scratch.While it will take a while to learn, even if you have some programming experience, the effort will pay off in the long run because you can mold a program to your working style instead of the other way around.You can run text-based apps remotely over SSH Run TUI apps on a cloud or home lab server One advantage of text-based programs over GUI programs is that they're much easier to run on a remote machine.
You might have a machine on a cloud provider or a Virtual Private Server (VPS), or you might have a home lab.You can log in over SSH and run Vim to make quick edits to a configuration file or program.Or you might want to check on the system itself using commands like ps, top, or htop.
You can also run a terminal multiplexer to keep your connection up in case of an interruption, which is handy if you're on a laptop connected over Wi-Fi.You can even use Mosh to keep your connection up across different connections, such as from a wired to a wireless network.While you can do this with graphical apps like VNC or NX, SSH is simpler and has lower overhead.
It works even if you don't have a graphical interface or apps installed on the remote machine.It also requires less bandwidth, and it works more reliably over wireless connections like Wi-Fi or cellular.TUI apps will never go away Text-based apps might seem outdated, but many technical computer users still rely on them for a reason.
They offer flexibility and reliability that graphical apps still can't match.
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