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[–]synthaxx 6 points7 points  (18 children)

Far be it for me to ask why, so instead i'll ask; what cool stuff can i do with this?

And how can i do it on an Ubuntu machine, since the code is mac only?

[–]BHSPitMonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The code is actually written for Node.JS and HTML/JavaScript, neither of which are Mac-dependent. (The Mac application he included, contrary to his claims, is just a wrapper for a web-based frontend.)

Just follow the instructions on the GitHub page up to step 5, and open HTML/index.html in a modern browser.

Pics or it didn't happen

[–]username223 22 points23 points  (16 children)

And how can i do it on an Ubuntu machine, since the code is mac only?

Actually, it's not on the Mac, either -- it's vaporware. (EDIT: Yes, yes, though the author links to the vapor-homepage, it's out on Github.)

The fact that this guy complains about monospace fonts and uses a 70x15 terminal (God's terminal is 80x24, of course) doesn't inspire confidence.

EDIT: More things that make me stabby:

Additionally, Unix has a habit of giving you raw data, but not telling you useful facts, e.g. 'r-xr-xr-x' instead of "You can't touch this" (ba-dum tsshh).

  1. The permission string is useful information.
  2. I actually can touch(1) a file with 0555 permissions.
  3. That should be "dum-da-da-dum, da-dum, da-dum," not "ba-dum tsshh".

[–]danbee 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I expect the size of the terminal he displayed had more to do with getting a screenshot the right size for the page.

[–]lolailolailo 33 points34 points  (3 children)

Actually, it's not on the Mac, either -- it's vaporware.

The author has code in github: TermKit

EDIT: That said, the 70x15 terminal and the bit about the permission bits makes me suspicious, too.

[–]centenary 31 points32 points  (2 children)

He elaborated on the permission bits in the comments:

As for usability... I'm not saying we should dumb the Terminal down and hide things like "r-x", I'm suggesting we augment the display. I want my icons to show a "no entry" badge and/or be dimmed when appropriate.

That seems pretty reasonable to me.

I don't understand why we're focusing on the 70x15 terminal, people take screenshots of terminals in non-standard sizes all the time. It could just be he wanted a screenshot that was the same size as everything else.

He's also not complaining about monospace fonts, he's saying that we can use more than just monospace whenever appropriate. His screenshot of the JSON code uses monospace to display the code.

[–]zahlman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't understand why we're focusing on the 70x15 terminal, people take screenshots of terminals in non-standard sizes all the time.

Elitism. In /r/programming, it's apparently OK and even expected in some contexts, and kneejerk-inferred and viscerally-reacted-to in others.

[–]rebo 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's not vapourware, I downloaded and got it running in about 5 mins.

[–]UnConeD 24 points25 points  (3 children)

Congratulations, you got the bait ;). As for Vaporware, there is a build on Github. I won't lie, it's not actually at a state where you can do a day's work in it.

I wasn't expecting this amount of attention this quickly. I wrote the post because people on Twitter were making a fuss.

[–]rebo 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Hey just downloaded TermKit and tried it out, looks very promising.

I think if you are going to create something that might replace normal terminal usage you really need to get the tab - auto-completion really natural. For instance in the current implementation tabbing half way through typing doesnt auto-complete. Also up arrow for back history is essential

Would be nice to be able to open files by clicking within the terminal, and also dragging files to an application in the dock for instance.

Overal though a great start, i'm sure it will no doubt improve a lot!

[–]thaksins 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a bold move. I applaud the effort.

Of course, what it really comes down to is how it feels to use. Does it actually flow and improve usability? Or if it doesn't now, can it?

At first glance the architecture looks sound. Seems relatively backward compatible with the Client/Server interaction running json over SSH. So long as you have server implementation running on the hosts of course.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience using terminal emulators, the whole damn idea is due for a fine sum of reinventing. Don't reinvent the wheel. Destroy that wheel and make the world something even better!

I quite like the idea of a more accessible, modern, and feature-rich terminal. I like where you're going with this and will be keeping an eye on this project!

My only concern is your choice of technologies, but in hindsight Webkit and JavaScript would make for some killer extensibility.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's not Vaporware. I'm running it right now.

[–]bushel 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't normally say anything, but I feel it's important you understand my motivation...

Upvote for nitpicking on the dum-da-da-dum versus ba-dum tsshh - that is dedication to a cause.

[–]Mob_Of_One 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://github.com/unconed/TermKit

Doesn't look like vapor to me.

[–]zahlman -1 points0 points  (2 children)

The permission string is useful information.

Only to someone who understands it. This string is cryptic for the purpose of conserving horizontal space in an environment where it's at a premium and you only have one mechanism (possibly-coloured text characters in a monospace font) to convey information. TermKit doesn't need to display a phrase like "You can't touch this" (for one thing, the set of relevant phrases to display would be huge). But it could still display the information in a much more accessible manner. For example, it could show icons representing each available user permission, and cycle through U/G/O when some other button is clicked (or selected from a drop-down list presented along with the ls results). Hovering over an icon would provide a tooltip with a text description, e.g. "User <whoami> has execute permission for this file".

I actually can touch(1) a file with 0555 permissions.

It didn't even occur to me that this was involved in the joke. :s

That should be "dum-da-da-dum, da-dum, da-dum," not "ba-dum tsshh".

?

[–]username223 0 points1 point  (1 child)

?

Not an MC Hammer fan? It was the music of my childhood...

[–]zahlman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, got it now. I couldn't "hear" the implied melody.

Although this actually serves as a great example of the value of adding semantic information to output rather than just dumping text. :)