xterm??

[newbiedev1]

Hello all,

I am beginner for linux. I wanted to ask something about xtem.
Please explain me-
1. what is xterm?
2. what is the use of xterm and how can we use it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

With Regards
New_Bie

[Cabhan]

So let's start by picturing an old UNIX computer. It would have been very large, and you would communicate with it by using a terminal. The terminal would be a black screen with green or white text and a keyboard. You've probably seen something like this in movies. People would login through the terminal and run commands on the commandline.

xterm is a "terminal emulator" that acts like a terminal. It essentially allows you to use the commandline even in a graphical environment.

xterm is not the only terminal emulator: there is also GNOME Terminal, Konsole, rxvt, and many others. But they all allow access to the commandline.

[theNbomr]

You will see many replies to questions in this and similar forums that say something like: 'run hortyflorty -xyz'. To do this, one would type the specified command at a shell prompt. To get a shell prompt, one option would be to use xterm.
You will do yourself a great service by learning at least how to execute basic commands at a shell prompt. Most of the things that can be done with Linux can be started there. It is easy for someone to give you a recipe to accomplish something by using shell commands that you execute in a terminal window (as opposed to explaining 'click this, select that, right-click the other', etc.).
--- rod.