How about a CLI KISS session? (was Re: [CLUE-Tech] /cli/suks)

[Jeffery C. Cann]

On Friday 23 March 2001 06:09, Cyberclops wrote:
> Obviously it has its place, but I don't see it as the most desirable
> interface for a home personal computer.  

I don't think that anyone is advocating the CLI as the only interface for a 
PC.  I am writing this in Kmail, a graphical email program.  Sure, I could 
use PINE, but I prefer the graphical presentation of my emails.  My point is 
that life without a good CLI add unecessary difficulty to many computing 
problems because a GUI is simply not as flexible as using CLI to string 
together commands and pipes.

> I was pointing up the fact that it's prone to the possibility of error due
> to mistyping, 

See, the cool thing about BASH (the default linux shell) is that you can use 
the 'tab' key to complete directory and filenames.  This helps with 
mistypings.  Try it out.  Do an ls <tab> and see what happens.  If you have a 
file called bob in your home directory, do an ls b<tab> and BASH will 
complete the file name.  This works for directories as well.  It is useful 
and prevents typos.

> While the CLI may be powerful, it's not intuitive.

IHMO, the CLI is intuitive.  However, users must spend a little time with it 
to get maximum benefit.  Futher, I would argue that many GUIs are not 
intuitive.  They do not use standard icons.  Some icons are not intuitive.  
The location of things such as options or configurations is not consistent.  
Why do I double-click in some GUIs but single click in others?

Would it help you if we had CLI KISS session at an upcoming meeting?  This 
may help you (and other CLUEbies) get the most from their CLI.

Let me know and I can ask Lynn D. to schedule something.

Jeff