The Third Way of Using Linux: Why the Text User Interface Deserves a Comeback

A third way of using Linux

Linux users typically choose between the command line and graphical interfaces, but a third option—the text user interface (TUI)—offers a middle ground. TUIs are text-only yet more approachable than raw commands, and they avoid the heavy dependencies of X11 or Wayland, saving RAM. The author argues that in 2026, with RAM prices high and a shift away from bloated frameworks, it's time to make the TUI a first-class user experience on Unix-like systems. Though limited for graphics and gaming, TUIs could form a cohesive environment that inspires more TUI-native development.