Invoke GUI application from linux text

[ahs3ng]

Hi guys

Im wondering if i could invoke GUI applications like mozilla from console mode? Recently i installed centOS 5 on my PC and i chose linux text installation. I wish to surf the net using mozilla, any methods to invoke the program from console?

I tried the search engine, but the things i read are too high-level for me and i dont even know im reading the correct article.. lol

[devils casper]

Have installed X Server? Execute startx command. Does it invoke GUI?
In case it doesn't, you have to install X Server first.

[i92guboj]

Hi guys

Im wondering if i could invoke GUI applications like mozilla from console mode? Recently i installed centOS 5 on my PC and i chose linux text installation. I wish to surf the net using mozilla, any methods to invoke the program from console?

I tried the search engine, but the things i read are too high-level for me and i dont even know im reading the correct article.. lol

I am not sure I catch you here.

If you *really really* want to use only console in that box, then your only bets are:

1.- use a text mode browser, like links, elinks or (the one I like) w3m
2.- use links -g under framebuffer

Use your distro docs and forums to check how to setup a framebuffer correctly, but it is very likely nowadays that your distro already has it turned on. It is on if you see fancy background graphis or progress bars on your console while booting. If it is, install links and use it with -g to get a graphical browser under console.

Note, however, that both of these options are very limited, and they don't allow you to see most multimedia stuff, and the support for javascript is also very limited, overall in links.

If this is not what you want, then you need X.

[daark.child]

You can't run GUI applications without running some sort of graphical server/client e.g. Xorg. If you strictly want to use the CLI, then you limit yourself to lynx, elinks, w3m and other text based browsers.

[i92guboj]

You can't run GUI applications without running some sort of graphical server/client e.g. Xorg. If you strictly want to use the CLI, then you limit yourself to lynx, elinks, w3m and other text based browsers.

As I said above, you can run them on console under framebuffer. That is what most linux based pdas and handheld do. And that is what qtopia is about: a qt derivative which does not need X to run.


But only a few programs actually do this. And they are rather limited for any actual computer. The sane option for a desktop system is to run X.

[ahs3ng]

sorry for the late reply.. ya.. what i want is like using startx.. im wondering is there a way to just simply load GUI mozilla with console behind? meaning i can tab between both of em to do things

[valan]

What I used to do is run eterm as a terminal, except run it almost maximized, with no decorations, always on bottom, and transparent. No panels or nothing. Then I had a nice background set up, and I set it up so Alt+arrows switched desktops, then it was pretty much just a pretty console I could run gui apps from. Something similar to that might be what you are trying to achieve.

[ahs3ng]

What I used to do is run eterm as a terminal, except run it almost maximized, with no decorations, always on bottom, and transparent. No panels or nothing. Then I had a nice background set up, and I set it up so Alt+arrows switched desktops, then it was pretty much just a pretty console I could run gui apps from. Something similar to that might be what you are trying to achieve.

ya, thats what i want. lol. could ya explain how ya do that?
and could this be done for video player too?

[valan]

It's been awhile since I've done this, you'll have to check the eterm docs to see how to set it up. All the options you need should be there, IIRC. You can either use your desktop environment or xsetbg to set the background. You would probably set up your apps with .xinitrc or I think .xsession. Different window managers and desktop environments would require this all to be set up a bit different, you'll have to do some research into how you want your specific set up to be.

[ahs3ng]

It's been awhile since I've done this, you'll have to check the eterm docs to see how to set it up. All the options you need should be there, IIRC. You can either use your desktop environment or xsetbg to set the background. You would probably set up your apps with .xinitrc or I think .xsession. Different window managers and desktop environments would require this all to be set up a bit different, you'll have to do some research into how you want your specific set up to be.

great... thanks again.. RND time.. haha