CLI vs. GUI: The case for the command line shell

I do not think that typed-in commands must necessarily be consigned to the dustbin of computer history. Of course, I am not suggesting that we all drop X and Windows and pretend like we are living in the early eighties. The command line interface still has much to offer us, and many of its benefits simply cannot physically be emulated or even replaced by graphical ones.

In this article, I will be analyzing the specific properties that make the command line unique and irreplaceable. I will likewise analyze the graphical UI's features--though only giving it a cursory look, since I assume my audience does not need to be persuaded to make the most of its video hardware.