Comparative Analysis of Linux GUI and Command Line Interface

This report provides a comparative analysis of Linux Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Command Line Interface (CLI), highlighting the advantages of GUI in terms of manual configuration, memorization, understandability, file control, and navigation speed. It further describes two prominent Linux desktop environments: GNOME and Cinnamon. GNOME, a free open-source environment, is detailed from its inception (GNOME 1) to its current version (GNOME 3), emphasizing its major distributions like Red Hat, Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. Cinnamon, another free open-source environment, is characterized by its traditional metaphor conventions and the use of X-Apps, including Xed, Xviewer, and Xplayer. The report concludes by suggesting GNOME as a suitable option for former Windows users due to its advanced GUI, easy accessibility, and open-source support.

Running head: LINUX AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
LINUX AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1LINUX AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
Answer to the question no 1:
Advantage of GUI over command line interface:
The users using Graphical User Interface can easily edit the configuration manually. On
the other hand in the command line interface, the lines of codes or instructions are needed to be
written in order to make the changes in the system.
In Graphical User Interface, easy memorization of the tasks can be done. On the other
hand the users of command line interface has to remember the command for the certain function
to be executed (Magezi, 2015). Apart from the in graphical user interface the instructions are
easily understandable than command line interface.
It has been seen that the users have much control over operating files and folders in the
graphical user interface rather than the command line interface. Some of the command line
interface are multitasking. However, in most of the cases, the multitasking is not a common
feature for command line interface (Cockburn et al., 2015). On the other hand, GUI users can
access the windows that will provide them to view, control, manipulate and toggle between the
programs.
The navigation process in the command line interface is done through keyboard which
can reduce the operating speed. On the other in the graphical interface, the navigation can be
done through both mouse and keyboard which enhances the navigation speed.
Answer to the question no 2:
Description of two Linux desktop environment:
Two Linux desktop environments are- GNOME, Cinnamon

2LINUX AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
GNOME: GNOME is free open source desktop environment for Linux operating system.
It is the acronym of GNU Network Object Model Environment. It is the part of GNU project.
The largest corporate contributor of GNOME is Red Hat (Series & Campbell, 2018). The
evaluation of GNOME started from the development of GNOME 1 and the current available
version of GNOME is GNOME 3. Some of the major distributions of GNOME are Red Hat,
Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a free open source desktop environment for Linux system. The
metaphore conventions used in the environment is traditional. Linux mint uses Cinnamon as the
principal desktop environment. The development of this desktop environment started in 2011.
This desktop environment uses X-Apps that is based on GNOME Core application (Dawson,
DeWalt & Cleveland, 2016). Xed is text editor, Xviewer is the document reader and Xplayer is
the media player in this desktop environment. Pix is the image organization in this system.
Some of the characteristics of this type of desktop environment are-
 Desktop effects are achieved through the compositions.
 Panel includes main menu, launchers, and window list and system tray. The panel can be
adjusted left or right.
 Various extensions can be used.
In case, if the user like to have Linux as operating system for the system, and he or she was
previously the user of the Windows operating system, then GNOME can be suitable for that user.
The GUI of GNOME is advanced and it is easy to access. Apart from that the commands are
easily understandable. Moreover, as it is open source, the support and troubleshooting of the
problems can be done easily as the contributors are larger in number.

3LINUX AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
References
Andy Cockburn, Carl Gutwin, Joey Scarr, & Sylvain Malacria. 2015. Supporting novice to
expert transitions in user interfaces. ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), 47(2), 31
David A. Magezi.2015. Linear mixed-effects models for within-participant psychology
experiments: an introductory tutorial and free, graphical user interface
(LMMgui). Frontiers in psychology, 6, 2.
Maurice Dawson.2016. The case for UBUNTU Linux operating system performance and
usability for use in higher education in a virtualized environment.
Sam Campbell.2018. Linux: The Definitive Beginner? s Guide To Get Started With Linux
Projects.