🖥️Command line

using this "hacker-looking" interface to access files

We can access a computer's file system using the command line:

• on Mac, via an application called Terminal

• on Windows, via Command Prompt

The prompt

The prompt, which appears when we load the command line app, shows us the current status:

On Mac, it may look something like: jon@Jons-Mac-mini Desktop %:

• jon@Jons-Mac-mini (or similar) refers to the current machine

• Desktop refers to the current folder

• % is the prompt (this symbol may also be $ or # depending on the system)

  • just a way of stating our "cue" to type a command

On Windows, it may look something like: C:\projects\>:

• C:\ refers to the hard drive

• projects refers to a folder on that drive

As shorthand, we will refer to the prompt as simply $

The command

A command consists of a:

• keyword

• arguments (the values that follow the keyword)

For example:

$ cd myfolder

From that:

• the keyword cd (change directory) has the argument myfolder

  • which takes us to the folder called myfolder

The commands

These commands come in handy on an everyday basis:

Command	Arguments	What it does
cat	filename	prints the contents of a file (may not appear readable depending on the type of file)
cd	foldername	accesses a folder (if it exists)
cd	.. (literally)	accesses the parent folder of the current folder
clear	(none)	clears the command-line screen of its history
ls	(none)	lists the files and sub-folders of the current folder
mkdir	foldername	creates a directory/folder
mv	oldname newname	renames ("moves") a file to a new name
pwd	(no arguments)	prints the path of the current folder
rmdir	foldername	removes the directory/folder (if it exists)
rm	filename	removes the file (if it exists)
touch	filename	creates a new blank file