1.1.�User interfaces in Linux: graphical and command line

[Tip]Tip

If you're using SSH,[2] you can skip to Section�1.4, “Shells, the shell prompt, and your home directory”.

Recall that graphical applications are unavailable while you're using SSH, unless you're using X tunneling.[3]

Fundamentally, there are two different ways to work with the Linux operating system:

As suggested by the title, this guide focuses on the use of the CLI.

Discussion of GUIs is restricted to Section�1.2, “Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for Linux”, Section�1.3, “Accessing the Linux CLI through a GUI's terminal window”, and Appendix�B, Graphical alternatives.



[5] See the Wikipedia article on GUIs to learn more.

[6] See the Wikipedia article on the CLI to learn more.


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