A frontend for the Command Line.

[Detonate]

I have not tried this yet, but it looks as if it might be useful to the CLI challenged. Especially linux newcomers.

http://okiebuntu.homelinux.com/blog/?p=194

[Telengard]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

Looks promising. I want to try it, but I'll wait for the PPA to come online.

Thanks Detonate

[Ole Juul]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

CLIcompanion lets you run Terminal commands from a GUI. It also lets you store commands to create a command ‘dictionary’.

Hmm, isn't Xterm a GUI? As for a command dictionary, I keep files with lists of handy commands and notes about what works for me. I can even cut and past from there, as could anybody else for that matter. Arrow up works too - not to mention automatic completion. I'm not sure what this has to offer that isn't already there. It does however look like it might be a good learning tool.

If CLIcompanion appeals to someone then that is good. Perhaps this will break the ice for some people. There seems to be a common phobia about the command line. I call it a phobia because often the same person who claims they can't use (or paste to) the command line, will write a whole paragraph explaining that, so obviously they can type - just not in all places. This is all about psychology so to my mind whatever works to overcome is a good thing.

[GreyGeek]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

I agree, Ole Joul...

When I open Konsole it give me a command line from a GUI (else where did the menus and configs come from?). I can recall previously used commands by using the up-arrow. IF I find myself repeated using the same command a lot I can create an alias for it, including paramter for variation if need be.

To me, this is re-inventing the wheel, or making a new mouse trap that isn't better.

IOW, I don't get it.

[Telengard]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

I don't get it.

Remember in the MS-DOS days there was DOSSHELL? This is not the same thing (ie not a filemanager).

What I am imagining is a program which brings command line resources together in an easy to navigate menu driven interface. You can have your command line, documentation, shortcuts and everything brought together under one unified shell.

This thing can't do anything beyond what you'd normally do in Konsole, but it is more of an organizational tool. For command line newbies it may be just the thing.

Edit

Okay think of it like this. It is like Eclipse, but for Bash.

[oshunluvr]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

I clicked on the post because of the oxymoronic subject, but it actually might be a good idea.

How about a command-line shell frontend that has an option to build a bash script from your input?

Seems I had something like that back in the 5.25" floppy days....

[Detonate]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

I thought it might be a useful tool for newbies. Might even show them the power of the command line. I have not actually installed or used it yet, but I intend to give it a spin when the PPA is available. Most of us probably won't need or use it much.

[MoonRise]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

How about a command-line shell frontend that has an option to build a bash script from your input?

That might be interesting.

[verndog]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

...There seems to be a common phobia about the command line. I call it a phobia because often the same person who claims they can't use (or paste to) the command line, will write a whole paragraph explaining that, so obviously they can type - just not in all places....

LOL. Very funny observation.

[oshunluvr]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

How about a command-line shell frontend that has an option to build a bash script from your input?

That might be interesting.

My thought was a simple text bar at the top of a terminal window that mirrors whatever you type and resets when you start a new line. You could test a command in the terminal window - when it did what you wanted, there would be a Save button that would offer new or append to a file.

The last script I wrote used cut, awk, printfs and trim commands. I was trying to extract four fields from a log file that had 2300+ entries that had about 40 fields each and I wanted the output in a readable column-aligned format (because I'm anal ).

Point being I went through 30 or 40 iterations to get to what I wanted.

Although I really can't imagine a menu driven shell being complete enough to do what I had to do.

[GreyGeek]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

.....
The last script I wrote used cut, awk, printfs and trim commands. I was trying to extract four fields from a log file that had 2300+ entries that had about 40 fields each and I wanted the output in a readable column-aligned format (because I'm anal ).

Point being I went through 30 or 40 iterations to get to what I wanted.

Although I really can't imagine a menu driven shell being complete enough to do what I had to do.

Flat files with fixed field delimiters are easy pickings for most Menu generated export/import utilities that I've used. Even OOo has a nice utility for importing flat files into spreadsheets. Pick the fields you want, identify the data types (usually string or numeric), identify the end of row character(s) and let it rip. The biggest problems arise when string fields contain single or double quotes or tabs, which are often field delimiters and confuse importers.

[oshunluvr]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

This was on a system using an old redhat kernel and NO ability to add applications (not that I wanted to).

cut and awk both have field delimiter capability so it wasn't as hard as I may have made it sound. The printfs part took some net searching...

[Elisa]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

I've tried it and it seems to be a helpful app
ore info: https://launchpad.net/clicompanion

Easy how-to install:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:clicompanion-devs/clicompanion-nightlies
...to automatically receive updates, add the clicompanion-nightlies ppa to your software sources list

Then :
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install clicompanion

After install just open it (e.g. in terminal) by:

clicompanion &

Enjoy!

[woodsmoke]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

Is NOTHING SACRED??!!!

I mean a COMMAND LINE GUI!!

Who would want a command line GUI!?

I mean LET THOSE NEWBS GET THE CLI STRAIGHT FROM THE FAUCET!!!

I mean I walked UPHILL...............BOTH WAYS............IN THE SNOW....to learn command line... and then I walked uphill both ways IN A RAIN STORM to learn the great intricacies of apt-get flush...you know...the command that we all use when finished with the throne...

BOTH WAYS UPHILL IN THE SNOW!!! > > >

I mean who in the worl....mmmmmmm .....

command line GUI.....hmmmm

wellll okaaayyyy!

woodsmoke

[Elisa]

Re: A frontend for the Command Line.

......

I absolutely don't know what was your post about?

Are you ok?

That above mentioned app is a CLI terminal in fact but it has like a "a big toolbar" above the main terminal windows where are placed some important commands.
Also you have to add/remember aka put it on the large toolbar your additional commands.
To apply the commands into the terminal, just click on it or right click and select from menu "Apply".

It's useful and cool app to speed up your everyday tasks
Look at an example:
http://yfrog.com/fkclicompanion001p

I always like to use a "byobu" in classic terminal, try it, it's useful too
Just type in your terminal
byobu

If u get an error, you probably have 1st to install it from your repo It gives you in the bottom a colored panel with additional infos, like: your PC name, (local) IP, time, date, CPU speed/freq., free RAM etc.