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by sjwright 2566 days ago
What defined a usable computer in 1999 is very different to what defines a usable computer in 2019.
1 comments
pjmlp 2566 days ago
Having a CLI isn't surely part of it for 99% of the consumers, neither in 1999 nor in 2019.
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robenkleene 2566 days ago
I always think this is such an odd sentiment. That 1% builds 100% of the software for the other 99%. Doesn't that make them disproportionately more important?
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pjmlp 2566 days ago
No, because many developers are part of that 99%.

Being a developer is not a synonym to be enamored with an UNIX CLI.

In fact, a graphical REPL is much more powerful.

So no, that 1% does not target the other 99%.

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robenkleene 2566 days ago
Liking using something is a bit different than having to use something. Are you saying you don't think the majority of developers need to use the command line for things like git, npm/general dependency management, running local web servers, compiling apps, continuous integration, etc...?
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pjmlp 2566 days ago
Yes, that is a tiny portion of what being a developer is all about.

Not everyone is writing UNIX daemons, stuck in UNIX workflows.

As I said, a graphical REPL for scripting languages is much more powerful.

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robenkleene 2566 days ago
If you're talking about web developers, then the majority literally are writing Unix daemons[1]

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_syste...

Again, I'm not talking about what's more powerful, and I'm not saying that everyone works this way, but I am suggesting the majority of developers do need the command line to do their job.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any usage statistics for the command line in isolation. But if you look at the most popular technologies, e.g., Node[2], then you can most likely extrapolate that the majority of developers are working with the command line.

[2]: https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#technology-_-...

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