"No CL" challenge?

[transactionlogfiller]

I tend to use the command line for moving files and launching apps. I could probably get by without it at home and still do almost everything but I would get very frustrated. I couldn't do my job without it though.

[maruchan]

If the Windows command line hadn't been so hobbled by Microsoft, I'm sure I would be using it just as much as I use it in Linux. It's just the easy way to do a lot of things, especially with tab-autocomplete and the other handy shortcuts. Add the fact that there are a lot of really nice command line apps like "convert" available, and the terminal is definitely very helpful to have. I also enjoy using the "Command Line" GNOME applet, finding it just as fast as the applications menu.

But yeah, I'm 100% sure that I could get by without using the terminal. It would make some stuff difficult though, like this task, which I never could figure out how to do in Windows Explorer without launching cmd.exe:

Make a file with a list of all the file names in a folder containing 1000+ files. Names only, no file size, etc.

I actually had to do this for a work project once, and I thought, "if I was a graphic designer with no technical background, would I even be able to do this?"

So now we start to see how a GUI can let you down.

[quietglow]

I couldn't find one, but has anyone documented an attempt to go a day or two without using the command line and actually get stuff done?

I'm contemplating doing some consulting involving using Ubuntu boxes in the creation and deployment of educational video content, and I'm getting very interested in "non-geek" user experiences with Ubuntu. I know "CL" =! "geek" but it is a reasonable indicator, I think.

Maybe I'll try it for a few days and post some results. Anyone else is welcome to give it a shot too.

[prizrak]

I don't use the CLI unless I'm doing admin type stuff.

[quietglow]

You know I suppose I just assume that everyone does use it alot...perhaps I'm wrong. It would be interesting to see what different usage patterns are. I know that I have a tendency to open a terminal to do lots of moving files around, and then I just default to using it to run stuff etc. since its open.

I also know that when I switch back to OSX (which I do every day at work), I rarely end up in a terminal. For one things BSD structure is foreign to me, but thats besides the point. Hmm...

[PatrickMay16]

I use the command line a lot. Sometimes I find it quicker for moving or copying files, and doing other things. A lot more convienient for some things.
When I'm sitting down at the computer, I almost always have at least one xterm open.
Though I could do most of everything I do without the command line.

[quietglow]

Odd how the messages got mixed up...something to do with the database downage or something.

Anyway, I've been keeping notes of when I have to head to the command line and I've found a couple of things:

1. My own biggest demand for the CLI is when I'm compiling or installing software. Synaptic is pure genius for the stuff thats in the normal repositories. I haven't hunted much for a way of using the GUI for installing debs and, of course, compiling stuff is completely out. This also means that on my laptop, which is more or less just like I like it, I don't have to use the command line ever really.

2. I do lots of repetitive tasks via the command line that I could just write a bash script for an then do via the GUI in the future. Programs I run from the CLI, unmounting my iPod (which doesn't happen very well via the 'unmount' under a right click, etc. I made a folder of these scripts and made a link to the desktop. Super handy.

Just some thoughts.

[bonzodog]

PatrickMay16: just on your sig; yes, Bill Gates is actually cool. Windows 2000 professional is by far the best OS Microsoft ever released. But, Steve ballmer is not cool. He has almost no computer knowledge, is a very greedy businessman, he thinks he rules the world, and throws childish paddies when things do not go his way.
In short he is a complete !"£$%$£" (substitute whatever you think is appropriate here).

Onto thread subject: I use the CLI alot, and using dapper means a certain familiarity is needed when things break, and you have to go in and manually fix things. I also have used Slackware for a long time, and that distro almost implies you need a good working knowledge of the CLI.