I'm on the lookout for a Linux distribution that operates solely in the terminal but offers a text-based user interface (TUI), similar to how tools like htop and other ncurses applications function. I want something without a traditional graphical user interface at all—just a terminal that has well-crafted text-based interfaces for managing both the system and applications. Does such a distribution already exist? Alternatively, would it be better to start with a base like Arch or Ubuntu Server and then install a range of TUI/CLI tools to create my desired experience? If anyone has attempted something like this, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
6 Answers
Have you checked out distros like Debian or Alpine Linux? They are quite popular for headless server setups.
You can easily switch your system to boot in terminal mode. Just open a terminal and type `sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target` and reboot. This works for most distros that use systemctl. When you want to go back to a graphical interface, just use `sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target`. It's a straightforward way to manage it!
But keep in mind, you might want more than just a command line if you want to browse around with keyboard navigation, like using ncurses apps.
What exactly is your use-case for needing this setup? Just curious!
For me, I run a headless Raspberry Pi with Raspbian for my Pi-hole, which can't handle a GUI.
There are lots of server-focused distros like Alpine and Debian server. You can use tmux to create your workspace and solely rely on TUI tools like ranger or vim. I don’t think you need to overthink the distro choice; just install what you need on a server version!
Thanks for the tips! That sounds manageable.
Exactly! Your setup can be as simple as Ubuntu Server with a few scripts to install what you want.
Honestly, I'm unclear about what you're after—if you want a TTY startup, any minimal server version of a distro will do. For a TUI setup, I can't help much, but keep in mind you'll need to find specific TUI tools for the tasks you want.
That's true! You'll definitely need to hunt for TUI tools to get the functionality you're looking for.
For sure, connecting to the network with tools like nmcli or nmtui will be key for a smooth experience!
You could consider using tty with tmux for a terminal multiplexer or try installing i3wm if you're okay with a minimal window manager. I mostly use TUI apps since GUI apps can be really slow for my needs.
Awesome explanation! That should help a lot.