Seeking a Linux Distro for Terminal-Only Experience with TUI
Asked by
TechyTraveler42
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!
Answers
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.
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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.
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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!
TechyTraveler42: Thanks for the tips! That sounds manageable.
OpenSourceGuru91: Exactly! Your setup can be as simple as Ubuntu Server with a few scripts to install what you want.
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What exactly is your use-case for needing this setup? Just curious!
TechyTraveler42: For me, I run a headless Raspberry Pi with Raspbian for my Pi-hole, which can't handle a GUI.
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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!
TUIfanatic77: Awesome explanation! That should help a lot.
SoftwareSage88: 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.
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Have you checked out distros like Debian or Alpine Linux? They are quite popular for headless server setups.
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TerminalNinja: That's true! You'll definitely need to hunt for TUI tools to get the functionality you're looking for.
LinuxExplorer: For sure, connecting to the network with tools like nmcli or nmtui will be key for a smooth experience!