   ;; Use C-u as scroll-up (must be set before actually loading evil)
   (spacemacs/load-or-install-protected-package 'evil t)
   (require 'core-keybindings)
+  ;; for convenience and user support
+  (unless (fboundp 'tool-bar-mode)
+    (spacemacs-buffer/message (concat "No graphical support detected, you won't be"
+                                      "able to launch a graphical instance of Emacs"
+                                      "with this build.")))
   ;; check for new version
   (if dotspacemacs-mode-line-unicode-symbols
       (setq-default spacemacs-version-check-lighter "[⇪]"))
   (spacemacs/set-new-version-lighter-mode-line-faces))
+
+(defun spacemacs//removes-gui-elements ()
+  "Remove the menu bar, tool bar and scroll bars."
+  ;; removes the GUI elements
+  (unless (eq window-system 'mac)
+    (when (and (fboundp 'menu-bar-mode) (not (eq menu-bar-mode -1)))
+      (menu-bar-mode -1)))
+  (when (and (fboundp 'scroll-bar-mode) (not (eq scroll-bar-mode -1)))
+    (scroll-bar-mode -1))
+  (when (and (fboundp 'tool-bar-mode) (not (eq tool-bar-mode -1)))
+    (tool-bar-mode -1))
+  ;; tooltips in echo-aera
+  (when (and (fboundp 'tooltip-mode) (not (eq tooltip-mode -1)))
+    (tooltip-mode -1)))
 
 (defun spacemacs/maybe-install-dotfile ()
   "Install the dotfile if it does not exist."

  (setq ad-redefinition-action 'accept)
  ;; this is for a smoother UX at startup (i.e. less graphical glitches)
  (hidden-mode-line-mode)
  ;; explicitly set the prefered coding systems to avoid annoying prompt
  ;; from emacs (especially on Microsoft Windows)
  (prefer-coding-system 'utf-8)

  (dotspacemacs/load-file)
  (dotspacemacs|call-func dotspacemacs/init "Calling dotfile init...")
  (dotspacemacs|call-func dotspacemacs/user-init "Calling dotfile user init...")
  ;; initialize the configuration layer system
  (require 'core-configuration-layer)
  (configuration-layer/initialize)
