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Questions tagged [terminology]

This tag is for questions about the correct name for something, or what particular terms might mean.

Proper terminology is essential to understanding other users when talking about Ubuntu and preventing confusion. This tag is intended to be used on questions asking what the standard names are for various things, such as what parts of the user interface are called.

36 questions
316
votes
10 answers

What is the difference between Terminal, Console, Shell, and Command Line?

What is the difference between Terminal, Console, Shell, and Command Line?
Anon
  • 12,339
130
votes
7 answers

What is the difference between a desktop environment and a window manager?

I'm having a really hard time trying to understand what the differences between a desktop environment and a window manager are? EDIT: From this article by Jack Wallen: There are basically three layers that can be included in the Linux desktop: X…
Zolomon
  • 1,829
52
votes
4 answers

What is the "Grave" button?

The quick help of Unity (long press on the Super button) shows that Switch windows of current application can be triggered by Alt+Grave keyboard shortcut. What is Grave? Here it is:
yossile
  • 5,828
38
votes
2 answers

What does the tilde at the end of a file name stand for?

In Windows, I believe that files with a tilde in the file name represent files that are currently open in an application. For example, Microsoft Word creates a file with almost the same name as the file you currently have open, but with a tilde in…
KOVIKO
  • 2,163
31
votes
2 answers

What do snap, snapd and Snappy refer to?

I understand (broadly) how snap packaging works. But what precisely do each of "snap", "snapd" and "Snappy" refer to? It seems like "snap" refers to many things (package format, terminal command...), "snapd" is a specific tool and "Snappy" is no…
lofidevops
  • 21,912
20
votes
2 answers

How to install terminology emulator on Ubuntu 14.04?

Is it possible to install terminology on Ubuntu 14.04? I didn't find anything helpful. Thanks!
svecax
  • 303
  • 1
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17
votes
2 answers

Which is correct: "GNOME Classic" or "GNOME Fallback"?

Since the availability of Unity and GNOME Shell, I have noticed widespread confusion over whether the more "traditional" version of the GNOME desktop environment should be referred to as "GNOME Classic" or "GNOME Fallback" in 11.04, 11.10 and…
Knowledge Cube
  • 14,911
14
votes
3 answers

Is it possible to remove the default terminal and replace it with some other terminal (like terminator or terminology)?

Some non-default terminals have got extra features like splitting window etc. We can always use those terminals without uninstalling the original one but is there a way to remove the original one? EDIT-Some comments say that it is not advisable to…
Gibreel Abdullah
  • 315
14
votes
1 answer

Ubuntu, Ubuntu Flavors, Ubuntu Remixes, Ubuntu Derivatives - what's the difference?

In the Ubuntu community, different terms come up using to describe different Ubuntu releases. At least 4 such terms exist: Ubuntu (Official) Ubuntu Flavors Ubuntu Remixes Ubuntu Derivatives So the main question is: What are all of these different…
ArrayBolt3
  • 7,292
12
votes
2 answers

What is a 'Distribution'?

I am new to Ubuntu. In fact, I just started using Linux. My question is: What is a distro?
Abbas Ali
  • 123
11
votes
2 answers

What should I call this key?

Microsoft calls it the Windows key. Compiz calls it the Super key. freedesktop.org uses Win and Super interchangeably. GNOME ambiguously calls it Meta, Super, or an OS-logo shift key. What should I call it when teaching others about Ubuntu?
ændrük
  • 78,496
10
votes
1 answer

What is the difference between "Spread all Windows" and "Window Spread" in unity-tweak-tool?

I have Unity Tweak Tool v0.03 installed and it shows the options "Spread all Windows" and "Window Spread" in the Hotcorners section as different actions. What is supposed to be the difference between these two options? For what I can tell, they do…
Gabriel
  • 2,502
9
votes
3 answers

What is the meaning of: Xorg, display manager, X server ?

I don't really have a problem, I was just wondering where I could find some documentation about what exactly X server, Xorg, LightDM and stuff like that does.. I always stumble upon those terms, I know they have something to do regarding the…
Brent Roose
  • 507
8
votes
1 answer

What is the thing called in GNOME 3 that appears when you press the super key?

When using Ubuntu 16.04 with the GNOME desktop and pressing the super key it causes an overlay to appear that displays Workspaces, overview of Applications, Application Launcher on the left, and search at the top. I'm wondering what this feature is…
Spencer Hill
  • 515
8
votes
5 answers

How can I make a mini English-Chinese dictionary for Ubuntu?

When you open your Ubuntu, many English words are used. For example, accessories, education, graphics, internet, office, other, sound, video, system tools, preferences, run, and log out will all appear in the GUI. How can I get a list of all English…
showkey
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