The Linux terminal can seem intimidating, especially for users who don’t want to remember commands. cp, mkdirOr lsblk. But terminal user interface applications are primarily known as tuiMake it possible to work inside the terminal by using visual menus, keyboard navigation, and structured layouts instead of complex command syntax.
TUIs run directly in the terminal but offer interactive interfaces that resemble lightweight graphical tools. Here are four Linux TUI apps that can make the terminal more practical for everyday tasks.
BandWhich monitors network activity in real time
(Credit: HowToGeek)
bandwhack is a terminal-based network monitoring tool that displays live connection activity across the system.
While running, BandWhich shows:
- Active processes making network requests
- process id
- data transfer rates
- Network adapters in use
- destination hostname
It can also resolve DNS names to make it easier to identify connection targets.
Installation varies according to distribution:
On Debian or Ubuntu systems via Snap:
sudo snap install bandwhich
On Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S bandwhich
On other distributions, users can download the latest binary from the BandWhich release page.
The tool must be run with elevated privileges:
sudo bandwhich
an alternative -t The flag enables total usage tracking rather than just recent packet activity.
Caligula burns ISO files with visual interface
(Credit: HowToGeek)
Caligula is a lightweight TUI designed to write ISO and IMG files to USB drives.
instead of running manually dd or other disk-writing commands, users can launch Caligula with:
caligula burn filename.iso
The interface prompts for checksum verification and target disk selection. During the writing process, Caligula displays a visual graph showing the transfer speed.
Installation options include:
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S caligula
Via Rust’s package manager (if installed):
cargo install caligula
Other distributions may require following the project’s installation guide.
Kew plays local music from the terminal
(Credit: HowToGeek)
kew is a terminal music player designed for users with local music collections.
By default, queue scans ~/Music Displays directories and libraries in a navigable interface. Users can browse using the arrow keys and press Enter to play a track or album.
The app supports:
- Album art and visualizer mode
- playlist view
- Shuffle Playback
- Quick launch by artist name
For example:
kew smiths
This command attempts to play music by Smith from the user’s library. Users can also shuffle a specific artist:
kew shuffle smiths
Installation Order:
Debian or Ubuntu:
sudo apt install kew
Arch Linux (AUR):
yay -S kew
openSUSE Tumbleweed:
sudo zypper install kew
NNN provides fast file navigation
(Credit: HowtoGeek)
nnnAlso called n³, is a terminal file manager that reduces duplication. cd And ls Commands by relying on keyboard-based navigation.
Launching NNN is simple:
nnn
Users can:
- Use the right arrow key to enter directories
- Use left arrow key to go back
- View file metadata such as modification date and permissions
NNN is available in most distribution repositories:
Debian or Ubuntu:
sudo apt install nnn
Fedora:
sudo dnf install nnn
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S nnn
openSUSE:
sudo zypper install nnn
Why does TUI matter to Linux users?
Terminal user interface apps provide a middle ground between command-line utilities and full graphical applications. They allow users to stay within the terminal while reducing reliance on remembering syntax-heavy commands.
All four tools are open source and available through common Linux package managers. Feature availability and installation steps may vary slightly depending on distribution and repository configuration.
