The Rise of the Command Line: building a new IDE (2017–2026)

- The article traces the evolution of developer tools from 2017 to 2026, arguing that the command line is being rebuilt as a new kind of IDE (Integrated Development Environment). An IDE is a software application that combines tools like a code editor, compiler, debugger, and terminal into one interface (e.g., VS Code, IntelliJ). - Historically, command-line interfaces (CLIs) — where you type text commands — were replaced by graphical IDEs for convenience. The thesis here is that modern CLI tools (like `ripgrep`, `fzf`, `jq`, `git`, `nvim`, `tmux`, and `zsh`) have become so powerful and composable that they effectively form a new, lightweight IDE that many developers prefer over traditional heavy GUIs. - The author runs Rune, a company building a new kind of terminal/command-line toolkit. This context explains why the article champions the CLI revival: Rune is a commercial bet on that trend. - Key context: a "TUI" (Terminal User Interface) is a text-based interface that runs inside a terminal, as opposed to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) which uses windows and mouse clicks. Many modern CLI tools use TUIs for interactive features like file search or Git history browsing.