Is The Prompt Way The Better Way?

[firechicken]

Hey all.

Is it best to learn the Linux OS from a command line perspective, or is it better to learn using one of the GUI's?

My primary interest is learning to run a server using one of the Linux OS's.

Any opinions or help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[twofoolish2b]

You sure will learn more about the system by using the command line interface, but it will take longer.

[Luthor]

Well, it really doesn't need to be an either/or proposition. One way to do it is to do as much as you can from the CLI and if you get stuck, use the GUI tools to fix the problem, if possible, then go see what got changed so you know what was wrong.

I almost always have at least two term sessions open all day but I also use Linuxconf, Midnight Commander, the KDE Control Center among others.

Try it all and see where it leads you http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif



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Luthor St. James
(aka [AcK]BillTheCat)

[klamath]

I've never used a GUI to config the system. It wasn't easy to learn, but once you "get it", it's far easier.

If you try to adminster a server using a GUI, the UNIX admins will laugh you out of the office http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

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- Klamath
Get my GnuPG Key Here (http://klamath.dyndns.org/mykey.asc)
Looking for an open source project to contribute to? Check out the BBB (http://bbb.sourceforge.net)

[Shad]

Use both. Consider the GUI tools to be a Crutch, so use them accordingly.

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Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life

[jlangley]

If you are going to program you have to realize in Linux there are the front end programs (the GUI) and the back end (where the real work is done...and usually command line driven.) You can learn the front end programs but it is far better to know what the GUI is typing at the command line. If you want to learn linux and how to manipulate it better, learn the command line. The command line is why Linux is such a powerful OS.

Jeremy
>FORGE your own road. Write Perl.<

[Iceman]

Hi:

The CLI is where the real power on *nix is, and it's essential to learn how to use it.
But the GUI is a nice crutch when new to it all. Use the CLI as much as possible, the swith to the GUI if stuck, as Luthor pointed out.

As Klamath pointed out, if you tried to do server admin using a gui you'd be laughed out of the place.

Finally, the cli is much faster (once you know it.) I'd also suggest you learn VI (no flame wars here, please. Most experienced *nix sysadmins I know laugh at anything else.

Have Fun!