dialog

The Linux terminal, a powerhouse for running commands and scripts efficiently, might not be the first place you look for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). However, using tools like dialog, you can create text-based, dialog-driven interfaces directly in your Bash scripts. This functionality is not only useful for enhancing scripts’ interactivity but also vital for simplifying complex processes for users who might not be as comfortable in a purely command-line environment. The dialog tool allows users to create a variety of text-user interface widgets, such as message boxes, yes/no dialogs, input boxes, menus, and more, right within the terminal.

Whether you're administering servers or working on your personal Linux box, crafting efficient and user-friendly shell scripts can massively simplify complex tasks. While traditional Bash scripts do the job, adding a graphical interface can make scripts intuitive and accessible, even for those less acquainted with the command line. In this blog post, we'll delve into how to create interactive scripts using dialog for terminal-based interfaces and zenity for graphical (GUI) dialog boxes. Before we start creating scripts, let's ensure that both dialog and zenity are installed on your system.