Introduction to the Terminal

Applications / Accessories / Terminal

username@computer-name:~$

~ stands for "home folder"
$ stands for non-administrator user

username@computer-name:~$ ls
	ls:	"list" location content
	cyan: 	protected folder
	blue: 	folders
	white: 	files
	red: 	zip and backup-files

username@computer-name:~$ cp    fox.txt     fox-backup.txt
	cp:	"copy" file

username@computer-name:~$ mv    fox.txt    jump.txt
	mv:	"rename" file

username@computer-name:~$ mkdir    text
	mkdir:	"make directory"

username@computer-name:~$ mv    *.txt     text/
	 text/:	"move" files to this directory

username@computer-name:~$ cd    text
	 cd:	"c directory"

username@computer-name:~$ cd ~
username@computer-name:~$ cd..

less: "less" displays out the content of the file

username@computer-name:~/text$   less   jump.txt

Type the word "less", then "j", and then "TAB" to auto-complete the name of the file "jump.txt" Press the up arrow-key to scroll back through the history of commands.

Launch the application in the command

username@computer-name:~$ abiword (try auto-complete to the application name)

pwd: shows the "present working directory"

username@computer-name:~$ pwd

/: is the top level directory

username@computer-name:~$   cd    / 
username@computer-name:/$

apt-get: install new software, remove software or update system

username@computer-name:/$    apt-get    update

apt-get must be used on the root system folder. If you were in a different folder, you can use the command sudo before apt-get

sudo stands for super-user-do

username@computer-name:~/text$    sudo    apt-get    update
username@computer-name:~/text$    sudo    apt-get    upgrade

sudo is handy to use before any command when it comes to access system files that are protected from normal users

nano: opens the "nano" simple text editor

username@computer-name:~/text$   nano
username@computer-name:~/text$   nano test.txt

mc: "midnight commander" is text based system browser

username@computer-name:~$  mc