5 GUI Programs in Linux and the Commands Running Behind Them

Linux is known for its powerful command-line interface (CLI), but it also provides many Graphical User Interface (GUI) programs to make tasks easier and more intuitive. However, every GUI program in Linux still relies on some form of command running in the background. Let’s explore five common GUI applications and the commands that power them.

1. Camera (Cheese)

Cheese is a popular webcam application on Linux that lets you capture photos and record videos using your computer’s camera.

What happens behind the scenes?

When you open Cheese from the Applications menu, the command running in the background is:

This command launches the Cheese GUI, allowing you to interact with your webcam. You can also launch Cheese directly from the terminal using this command.

2. Calculator (Gnome Calculator)

The Calculator application in Linux, often called Gnome Calculator, is a simple yet powerful tool for performing calculations.

Behind the scenes:

The command that runs when you open the calculator is:

gnome-calculator

You can execute this command from the terminal to open the calculator window, bypassing the menu.

3. Notepad (Gedit)

For text editing, Linux users commonly use Gedit, a simple but effective text editor. It’s the default editor in many Linux distributions like Ubuntu.

The command behind it:

When you open the Gedit application, the command running is:

gedit

You can also specify a file directly, like this:

gedit myfile.txt

This opens the shams.txt document in the Gedit editor.

4. Web Browser (Firefox)

Firefox is one of the most widely used browsers on Linux systems. While it has a powerful GUI, it’s also tied to a terminal command.

Command behind Firefox:

When you launch Firefox from the Applications menu, the command running behind the scenes is:

firefox

You can also open a specific website directly from the terminal, like this:

firefox https://www.google.com

5. System Monitor (Gnome System Monitor)

The System Monitor gives you a GUI interface to monitor your system’s performance, processes, and resources. It’s the equivalent of the Task Manager on Windows.

What runs in the background?

When you open the System Monitor, the command working behind the GUI is:

gnome-system-monitor

This opens the graphical interface showing CPU, memory, disk usage, and processes.

Conclusion

Even though GUI programs in Linux feel easy and intuitive, they’re still driven by simple terminal commands. Knowing these commands can help you troubleshoot, customize, or automate your Linux system more efficiently. I encourage you to try launching these applications using the terminal and see the power of the command line in action!

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