By Hasan Shah User Interfaces

National University of Modern Languages

Department of Engineering
Lecture notes

Command Line Interface

A command line interface (CLI) enables users to type commands in a terminal or console
window to interact with an operating system. Users respond to a visual prompt by typing
a command on a specified line, and receive a response back from the system. Users type a
command or series of commands for each task they want to perform.

Graphical User Interfaces

A graphical user interface (GUI) uses graphics, along with a keyboard and a mouse, to
provide an easy-to-use interface to a program. A GUI provides windows, pull-down
menus, buttons, scrollbars, iconic images, wizards, other icons, and the mouse to enable
users to interact with the operating system or application.

a command line interface (CLI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) may want to know the
advantages and disadvantages of each interface to help determine what interface is the
best for them to use and why. Below is a table to help illustrate the major advantages and
disadvantages of each of the interfaces.

Topic Command line (CLI) GUI

Although new users may have a
Because of the memorization and
difficult time learning to use the
familiarity needed to operate a
mouse and all GUI features, most
Ease command line interface, new users have
users pick up this interface much
a difficult time navigating and
easier when compared to a
operating a command line interface.
command line interface.
Users have much more control of their
Although a GUI offers plenty of
file system and operating system in a
control of a file system and
command line interface. For example,
Control operating system, the more
users can copy a specific file from one
advanced tasks may still need a
location to another with a one-line
command line.
command.
Although many command line GUI users have windows that
environments are capable of enable a user to view, control, and
Multitasking multitasking, they do not offer the same manipulate multiple things at once
ease and ability to view multiple things and is much faster to navigate when
at once on one screen. compared with a command line.
Topic Command line (CLI) GUI
Resources A computer that is only using the A GUI requires more system

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By Hasan Shah User Interfaces

resources because of each of the

elements that need to be loaded
command line takes a lot less of the such as icons, fonts, etc. In
computers system resources than a addition, video drivers, mouse
GUI. drivers, and other drivers that need
to be loaded take additional system
resources.
Although A GUI enables a user to
A command line interface enables a create shortcuts, tasks, or other
Scripting user to script a sequence of commands similar actions, it doesn't even come
to perform a task or execute a program. close in comparison to what is
available through a command line.
When accessing another computer or Although remote graphical access is
Remote networking device over a network, a possible. Not all computers and
access user can only manipulate the device or especially not all network
its files using a command line interface. equipment has this ability.
Each GUI has a different design
After you've learned how to navigate
and structure of how to perform
and use a command line, it's not going
different tasks. Even different
to change as much as a new GUI.
Diverse versions of the same GUI, such as
Although new commands may be
Windows, can have hundreds of
introduced, the original commands
different changes between each
always remain the same.
version.
The command line allows the user to Although shortcut keys can be
keep their hands on the keyboard and learned to help reduce the amount
rarely have to move from the keyboard of times you have move from the
Strain to the mouse. Moving back and forth keyboard to the mouse, you will
between a keyboard and mouse can still be moving much more between
cause additional strain and may help the keyboard and mouse with a
contribute to Carpal Tunnel. GUI.

Although it appears that a command line wins this comparison, it is not meant to be a
suggestion to stop using a GUI such as Windows and only use a command line. It is more
beneficial for a computer user to learn and understand both a GUI and CLI and know the
strengths and weaknesses of each interface.

Menu Driven Interface

This interface requires the user to interact with the computer by selecting various options
from a list of choices called a menu.

Most programs use a number of menus, with commands grouped together sensibly to
help the user find the command they want to use.

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By Hasan Shah User Interfaces

Advantages of menu-driven interface

i. User does not need to memorise lots of commands

ii. Easy-to-use program for beginners with minimal training requirements

Disadvantages

i. Certain operations/options cannot be ‘visual’

ii. Can be time consuming to find a command if
unfamiliar with software

Nowadays, Graphical User Interfaces incorporate menus

where commands are selected by pointing the mouse cursor
at the command to be executed. However it is usually
possible to type in a keyboard shortcut to instruct the
software to carry out the action.

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