In the beginning… it was the command line
Tags: linux, computerscience, systems, webdev
Published: 2023-02-17 19:57:36

> In order to talk about user interfaces, I would first like to clarify what is a command line and a graphical interface? So the less experienced will have a good context to understand the following post.

## What are CLI and GUI?
The Terminal, Console, Shell, Bash, or any other name given to the command line or CLI (Command Line Interface) is nothing more than one of the primitive methods in which a user interacts with a computer, in a very simple way.

![Command line interface in manjaro linux](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3cq9q41ca09fqeyjna09.png)

This allows us to list, delete, create and modify files, access servers with [SSH](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell), have control of Internet networks on our computer, launch or terminate processes, among many other things.

Unlike the [GUI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface) (Graphical User Interface) it only allows us to open and close windows, as well as their submenus and move the mouse cursor from one side to the other like a virtual accusing finger. Although, of course, if you like shooters or use Adobe or CAD programs, I see something complicated that you can perform adequately only with the command line.

![Gnome graphical user interface](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/76ztb7qt4d3d0m8hx7rf.png)

> In a way, the power of the metaphor is abused to make human/machine interaction more accessible, this limits users to only functions that can be done with a mouse.

## Origin of user interfaces
In the early days of computing, computers did not have a GUI with desktop, folders, mouse pointer, icons and all that we know today.

In the 60s and 70s, there were [punched cards](https://en.wikipedia.org//wiki/Punched_card), which was one of the first forms of human-computer interaction, for this, written language was used and continues to be used, which is the easiest form of communication, let’s remember that everything in the world of computers is about communication.

Ok, in 1984 Mac and Windows in 1985, they launched their graphical interface starting the era of windows, this would translate into a friendlier environment for most people.

Have you noticed how graphical interfaces simulate an office? You have your desktop, your trash can for the files that you discard as if they were sheets of paper, also many icons are office items, in fact, Windows has its famous Office which is a collection of tools for, well… office.

## Just curious
Mac users accuse Microsoft users that Windows (its greatest success) is a copy of the Mac graphical interface, but they forget that the apple was the first to copy the Xerox invention called [WIMP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIMP_(computing)), Windows, Icons Menus and Pointers for its acronym and for its main components, and guess what, this is the true origin of what we now know as the graphical user interface.

## Disclaimer
I used the title of a book that I have read several times because of how entertaining and informative it is, it was also the inspiration to create this little post.

[In the Beginning...was the Command Line](https://www.amazon.com.mx/Beginning-Was-Command-Line-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0380815931/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=in+the+beginning+was+the+command+line&qid=1676582976&sprefix=the+beginning...+was+the+command%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1)

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