Is a command line interface better than a GUI?

[brooke@bikeshed.vibber.net]

@evan "no, but" it's easier to build a secondary gui on top of a cli than to add a secondary cli on top of a gui

[shtrom@piaille.fr]

@evan Yes if you're familiar with it, as faster and more composable. But likely less discoverable (though it has gotten better with good help and complex completion).

A search by menu name is a must-have for me in GUIs nowadays.

[hans@social.woefdram.nl]

@Evan Prodromou Invalid question

In some cases one is better, in other cases the other. Personal taste is a factor, learning curve is another...

So many factors to consider, there is no simple yes-or-no.

[jamesmarshall@sfba.social]

@evan hard to say... depends on the person and task. IMO a CLI is far more versatile and powerful than a GUI for someone who knows the tool(s) being used, but a GUI can make its use possible in the first place by a non-techie. Also, a GUI can offer all kinds of visual data like charts, etc. I use both at different times. I said "yes, but...".

[evan@cosocial.ca]

@hans

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[terryhancock@realsocial.life]

@evan
Most of the time, no. But when you need it, the CLI is essential.

[samupstate@hachyderm.io]

@evan not inherently, no. But there are situations where it's the better tool for the job.

[kzurell@cosocial.ca]

@evan The more interesting question: is there a lossless conversion back and forth between a grammar and a GUI toolkit?

[martyfouts@mastodon.online]

@evan Each is better suited to some tasks than the other. You can do CAD with a command line but anything that visual is usually easier with a good GUI.

Likewise, tasks that are suitable for scripting are usually better done with a command line.

The best systems mix them, using each where it is more suitable and have done for more than 50 years.

[mpjgregoire@cosocial.ca]

@evan Depends on the task, as others have said. But as a general matter, the CLI is more powerful. Yes, but.

(I run Emacs both in GUI and terminal mode.)

[toothpaste_sandwich@mastodon.nl]

@evan It depends on the task. I.e. no, it isn't better. Cold hard logic. Bam. Boom. Kablooie.

[virtuous_sloth@cosocial.ca]

@evan As an IT administrator, I've found that the best-designed software has a language with objects and verbs. The language may be surfaced in a CLI and/or and API. I'm sure the code underneath follows this design.

The GUIs for these apps are layered on top of this and provide easy access to more complex actions with lots of options, the one case where a GUI is superior to a CLI.

[pauamma@mstdn.social]

@evan "There is yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."

[earth_walker@mindly.social]

@evan No, neither is generally better than the other. They are both suited to different applications.

[machinaecrire@mstdn.social]

@evan Is an apple better than an orange? Well, do you want to make an apple pie or orange juice?

[gwhilts@xoxo.zone]

@evan

Horses for courses

[edwing@mstdn.moimeme.ca]

@evan @heliomass Yes, but less convenient

[evan@cosocial.ca]

@jamesmarshall I ask hard questions!

[evan@cosocial.ca]

@kzurell hard disagree, my question is more interesting

[evan@cosocial.ca]

@machinaecrire also apples are better than oranges