Wind the clock back about 50 years, and you would have found the DSKY interface—with a display (DS) and keyboard (KY)—quite familiar. It was frontend to the guidance computer used on the Apollo missions, that ultimately allowed Neil Armstrong to utter that celebrated, “One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” The device effectively used a command line.

Better known as a science fiction author, Neil Stephenson’s “In the Beginning… Was the Command Line”, written in 1999, has become something of a classic. While describing the history of operating systems, it extols the virtues of UNIX and its command line. Recently, the American journalist, columnist, and widely-read blogger, Doc Searles, posted an article reflecting on this gem: “In the End Is the Command Line”. Doc points out that the one constant that stands the test of time is Linux. Stephenson’s “In the Beginning” celebrates the power, robustness, and flexibility of UNIX, and how resilient its philosophy had proven even then—and now, in its descendent operating systems such as GNU/Linux and macOS.

Despite some dated references, “In the Beginning” is recommended reading for digital natives who have grown up with WIMPy GUIs and touchy interfaces, but are embarking on a journey into the new world of the keyboard. Repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome from over-use of mice, and ‘text-neck’ from smartphone addiction, I mean use, might be avoided—and time saved—with learning how to automate repetitive tasks using the command line.

There is also a critique by Garrett Birkel — that Doc recommends reading only after you’ve read ItB.

For those in the mood for more philosophy about technology, Eric Raymond’s “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” is another great read, and is the source of the proposition, “Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow”.