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authornathan <nathansmith@disroot.org>2025-08-10 21:30:29 -0600
committernathan <nathansmith@disroot.org>2025-08-10 21:30:29 -0600
commit3da6d2a730b11196acc674f873065ce09ecb8715 (patch)
tree7674aeebbcf52eff89c8b6b90634dab3862739de /org
parent9aa6574a997cd54e8b231bf0a045b7a3bd92055c (diff)
The command line reactionary
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<channel>
<item>
+ <title>The command line reactionary</title>
+ <name>the-command-line-reactionary</name>
+ <pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 03:26:27 GMT</pubDate>
+ <file>articles/the-command-line-reactionary.xml</file>
+ </item>
+
+ <item>
<title>Existing</title>
<name>existing</name>
<pubDate>Sat, 09 Aug 2025 17:07:15 GMT</pubDate>
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+<article>
+ <p>
+ Modern GUI fucking suck. Very little customization, mobile first design,
+ <i>GNOMEism</i>, electron... A lot of things to dislike indeed which will
+ of course lead to people disliking. Some even lump all of this into one
+ thing and blame GUI in general. Those are people I call command line
+ reactionaries.
+ </p>
+
+ <h2>Why command line is wonderful</h2>
+ <p>
+ When I write things people (often willingly) misunderstand what I
+ say. <b>No, I am not saying command line programs are bad.</b> In fact here
+ is a list of why they are wonderful:
+ </p>
+ <ul>
+ <li>Simple to write, test, and maintain.</li>
+ <li>Easily automated and used from other programs.</li>
+ <li>Doesn't have themeing and integration issues when used in some desktop
+ environments and window managers.</li>
+ <li>Screen reader friendly unless you really fuck it up.</li>
+ <li>Can be used over ssh or telnet.</li>
+ <li>Slightly more dummy prove from shitty developers.</li>
+ <li>Heavily keyboard focused.</li>
+ <li>Can be used in the tty.</li>
+ </ul>
+
+ <h2><i>Why do I write this if command line good</i></h2>
+ <p>
+ There is this generally held belief with some unix users GUI programs can't
+ be good. They will make command line versions of programs purely as a
+ reaction to the GUI version sucking. Quickly this turns to just making a
+ command line version for everything once the black and white "GUI
+ inherently bad" mindset kicks in. File manager? Ranger (even though ls,
+ touch, rm... exist). Email? Mutt. These programs existence is a net
+ positive but did anyone ever stop to think "what if we made and use GUI
+ programs that don't suck?". Some tasks are just plain annoying to do from
+ the command line yet the command line versions get more development and the
+ GUI implementations are left up to beginner python programmers who can't
+ get the most out of python yet alone use a better language. Those kinds of
+ programmers I speak of also fall for bad software design philosophy the
+ most. TUI programs are also kind of stuppa. They cross out a few of the
+ things on the command line is wonderful list without getting that much
+ closer to the advantages of GUI programs.
+ </p>
+
+ <h2>What to do about it</h2>
+ <p>
+ We need GUI programs that don't use libraries programmed with one desktop
+ environment in mind. Use pure gtk and qt instead. GUI programs should work
+ in both wayland and X11 not one or the other. No more annoying popups and
+ treating the user like they don't know what they are doing. We need config
+ files and customization even if its possible for the user to <i>break
+ it</i>. GUI programs shouldn't be the dummy option, they should be the
+ graphical option.
+ </p>
+</article>