Command Line Basics
In this Episode, we will cover the most common Linux command-line commands.
Linux has two main ways of identifying a user’s access level. A $ is for the normal user and a # sign is usually for the root or privileged user
| Command | What it Does | Why would you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Echo | Displays the text you type out | |
| PWD (print working directory) | Prints the directory you are in | |
| LS (list directories) | List the sub-directories attached to the directory you are in | |
| Touch | Create new empty files | |
| File | Tells you the file type | |
| Cat | Displays file Content | Good for small files |
| Nano | Text editor | |
| Less | Navigate through a file by pages | To navigate through big files |
| History | History of the commands that you previously entered | To recall a command you may need again |
| Cp (copy) | Copies a file to a new location | Keeps the original file and gives a copy of the file |
| Mv (move) | Used for moving files and also renaming them | Moves the original file to the specific location |
| Mkdir (Make Directory) | It will create a directory if it doesn’t already exist. | Directories are good for organizing files and applications |
| Rm (remove) | Used to delete files and directories. | |
| Find | Helps us search for files | You may forgotten where you stored a config file but know the name |
| Help (other tool name) | Used to see the instructions on how to use a command line tool | |
| Man (other tool name) | Displays a manual for that tool | |
| Whatis (other tool name) | Provides a brief description of command line program | |
| Alias/Unalias (name) | Assigns a name to commands | Sometimes typing commands can get really repetitive, or if you need to type a long command many times, it’s best to have an alias you can use for that. To create an alias for a command you simply specify an alias name and set it to the command. |
| Exit | Logout command |
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Updating Linux
Before you do anything, it is always best to ensure your Linux Environment is up to date and pulling the latest repos:
Echo
Description: Prints text or variables to the terminal. Useful for displaying messages or variable values.
PWD (print working directory)
Description: Shows the full absolute path of your current directory.
LS (list directories)
Description: Lists files and directories in the current location. Add options for details or hidden files.
Touch
Description: Creates a new, empty file or updates the timestamp of an existing file.
File
Description: Shows the type of a file (text, directory, binary, etc.).
Cat
Description: Concatenates and displays the content of files in the terminal.
Nano
Nano can be used as a text editor, which is usually found in most Linux distributions.
Less
Description: Opens a file interactively so you can scroll through it, useful for long files.
History
Description: Displays a list of previously entered commands.
Cp (copy)
Description: Copies files or directories to a new location.
Mv (move)
Description: Moves or renames files and directories.
Mkdir (Make Directory)
Description: Creates a new directory (folder).
Rm (remove file)
Description: Deletes files or directories. Use with caution!
Rmdir (remove directory)
Find
Description: Searches for files and directories matching criteria (name, type, etc.).
Help (other tool name)
Description: Shows brief help for a command, listing options and usage.
Man (other tool name)
Description: Displays the full manual (documentation) for a command.
Whatis (other tool name)
Description: Gives a one-line description of a command.
Alias/Unalias (name)
Description: Creates or removes shortcuts for commands (aliases).
To get rid of an alias type:
Exit
Description: Closes the current terminal session or shell.