The current trend since the introduction of the mouse, and especially the Apple MAC, has been the "Point and Click" mode of operation. It has immediate appeal because it seems very simple. Everybody thinks: "I can do that". And indeed, it is the first communications we as infants use. Think about it. A baby points and either Coos and smiles; or he points, makes a face, and screams. This roughly corresponds to: Right and Left mouse Clicking. If this doesn't get the result he wants, he puts emphasis behind it; which is like double clicking.

By the time the infant reaches the mental age of about one year, he starts using: words. Words allow him to request things other than what is immediately visible; but he has to learn the words. The words also give more precise meaning. He can use adjectives such as: "big", or colors; and negatives such as "No". This is exactly the virtues that a command language has over the "Point and Click" or GUI interface. You can select from many commands and a command can have parameters. But, you do have to learn the "Commands".

There is another advantage to Words or Commands: You can write them down. A quick glance at any attempt to document a Windows application will show the difficulty of writing: Clicks and pointing. Sometimes they try to show window images, other times they try to use descriptions and titles; but this all leaves the reader hunting at best and more often confused. The lack of ability to list commands is worse than just making it confusing and difficult to write instructions; it has eliminated the concept of putting a sequence of commands into an executable list.

The concept of a Job Stream or Command Stream is lost with the GUI interface. I point out that the language Forth is nothing but creating new commands or words with a sequence of existing commands. In Windows, the facility of the .BAT file in DOS has been lost. (Most users of the Internet don't realize that when they type in a URL, they are using UNIX; which is a command line language.)

I suspect "write-ability" is why the Internet is implemented in UNIX. (DOS is by and large a limited rip off of UNIX concepts.) Even in Windows 98, the significant parts (such as the boot up) are done in DOS. Certainly programs are never written in Clicks and Points.

"Drop Down Menus", and then sub menus is nothing but a feeble attempt by the GUI guys to patch in commands; but this is a very weak substitute for a good command language. This is not to say that the mouse and Clicking should be done away with. Indeed there are applications where it is superb; but it should not be used to replace computer commands. A good use is the "Links" we see on the Internet. But even there, isn't it sad that we can't select the item; and then issue a command to say what we want to do with it? GUI limits us to nothing more than a "show" command, when we may want to: see its size and characteristics or, save its URL, print it, save it, or only display the first screen, etc.