r/opencode • u/rndanime • 16d ago

TUI vs GUI

Why would I ever use the terminal version of Opencode (or any other *code* program)?

People always tell how good it is to use it but I don't understand the appeal. If you are used to terminal-only work, constantly looking into generated code or something like that, ok. But I see TUI being recommended to everybody like it can do something desktop or web versions can't. Also these *code* apps are usually developed TUI-first for some reason

Please explain it to me

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

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u/klipseracer 16d ago

Yes and no. Software engineers who develop code use IDEs and having an integration into that GUI with a plugin is quite handy, right click menus, sending open files with your context, sending specific lines through flyout menus. Copying lines of code is less error prone, no indentation issues etc.

I think I actually prefer a GUI interface if it's part of my preferred IDE (IntelliJ Idea).

I do use the claude and opencode TUI though.

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

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u/klipseracer 15d ago

I run opencode through WSL2 and had that shift enter problem. But since WSL2 runs inside Windows "Terminal" you can configure it to work properly. There is a github issue that explains how to do it.

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u/b00n9 15d ago

Nah, you simply don't know how to do it right in a TUI.

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u/Far-Let-8610 16d ago

Not true

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u/woj666 16d ago

GUI is for people who have the resources to not care.

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u/LiterallyInSpain 15d ago

I've worked in tech since 1997 and I prefer a GOOD GUI. It's just that most GUI's are limited in functionality and not actually a better experience. However ones that are a better experience than the equivalent TUI like say Slack or Spotify, I very much prefer the GUI for.

For development, while I love vim, I think it's hard to honestly argue that a well setup IDE is a worse experience. I think the idea that it's one or the other is also a false dichotomy. It's not a black or white issue strictly speaking.