4 ms·

Terminal is a program of some kind, like xterm, (or a monochrome device with nice smooth scrolling), shell is a different kind of program, that interpret your i

Terminal is a program of some kind, like xterm, (or a monochrome device with nice smooth scrolling), shell is a different kind of program, that interpret your input like bash. TTY is an interface to access a system over serial line, and console is an interface pre-configured for administrative access. ^_^

jff 15y ago
A terminal is a physical device for access to a computer. The VT-100 and Teletype ADM-33 are both examples. Xterm is a terminal emulator for X--it pretends to be something like a VT-220, so you can run your text mode programs. TTY, of course, stands for Teletype, which was a common terminal used in the early days of Unix. In the old days, you'd talk about having a whole room full of TTYs. Now, it seems to refer to the emulated terminals provided by a Unix-like system. A console would originally be a specific terminal (often hard-copy, like a Teletype) hooked directly to the computer for administrative tasks.
- pyre 15y ago
  I remember seeing a a tty at a pay phone at a rest stop in Maine a few years ago (maybe 2007). IIRC, it was for the deaf.
  - burgerbrain 15y ago
    You are correct. If you look at the bottom of posters/flyers for government services (suicide help lines, schedule services for transit, that sort of thing), you'll often see underneath "phone: " a line "TTY: " with a slightly different phonenumber following. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Telecommunications_device_for_the_deaf https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Telecommunica...
spc476 15y ago
A terminal can also be a hardware device with a keyboard and monitor that is hooked up to a computer through a serial port. I used to have a VT102 hooked up to my Linux system at one point (it's in storage now).
- mbreese 15y ago
  I'm sure most people these days don't know that the VT102 was an actual physical device, not just a configuration option... (I'm only 33 and having get those kids off my lawn moments...)
  - burgerbrain 15y ago
    If people just made sure to use the correct vocabulary, the issue would be a non-issue. I doubt there is a single person out there that 1) might encounter a terminal emulator, and 2) doesn't get that a VT102 actually existed from the name terminal emulator. You have laymen with emulators on their telephones. It shouldn't be a hard concept to teach.

jff 15y ago

A terminal is a physical device for access to a computer. The VT-100 and Teletype ADM-33 are both examples. Xterm is a terminal emulator for X--it pretends to be something like a VT-220, so you can run your text mode programs. TTY, of course, stands for Teletype, which was a common terminal used in the early days of Unix. In the old days, you'd talk about having a whole room full of TTYs. Now, it seems to refer to the emulated terminals provided by a Unix-like system. A console would originally be a specific terminal (often hard-copy, like a Teletype) hooked directly to the computer for administrative tasks.

pyre 15y ago
I remember seeing a a tty at a pay phone at a rest stop in Maine a few years ago (maybe 2007). IIRC, it was for the deaf.
- burgerbrain 15y ago
  You are correct. If you look at the bottom of posters/flyers for government services (suicide help lines, schedule services for transit, that sort of thing), you'll often see underneath "phone: " a line "TTY: " with a slightly different phonenumber following. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Telecommunications_device_for_the_deaf https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Telecommunica...

spc476 15y ago

A terminal can also be a hardware device with a keyboard and monitor that is hooked up to a computer through a serial port. I used to have a VT102 hooked up to my Linux system at one point (it's in storage now).

mbreese 15y ago
I'm sure most people these days don't know that the VT102 was an actual physical device, not just a configuration option... (I'm only 33 and having get those kids off my lawn moments...)
- burgerbrain 15y ago
  If people just made sure to use the correct vocabulary, the issue would be a non-issue. I doubt there is a single person out there that 1) might encounter a terminal emulator, and 2) doesn't get that a VT102 actually existed from the name terminal emulator. You have laymen with emulators on their telephones. It shouldn't be a hard concept to teach.