Linux Command Line - Practical
Guide
Files, permissions, processes, networking and shell scripting - the commands
employers expect
Complete Study Guide | Key Concepts | Examples | Practice Questions
, 1. Navigating the Filesystem
Everything in Linux is a file. Learn to move, inspect and organise from the terminal - it is faster than any GUI for
real work.
pwd # where am I?
ls -lah # list with sizes, hidden files
cd /var/log # change directory
cd ~ ; cd - # home; back to previous
mkdir -p proj/src # create nested dirs
cp -r src backup # copy recursively
mv old.txt new.txt # rename / move
rm -rf build/ # delete recursively (careful!)
touch notes.txt # create empty file
- / = root; ~ = home; . = current; .. = parent.
- Tab completes names; Ctrl+C kills a running command; Ctrl+R searches history.
- man ls shows the manual; command --help gives a quick summary.
- rm -rf is unforgiving - double-check the path before Enter.
Page 1
Guide
Files, permissions, processes, networking and shell scripting - the commands
employers expect
Complete Study Guide | Key Concepts | Examples | Practice Questions
, 1. Navigating the Filesystem
Everything in Linux is a file. Learn to move, inspect and organise from the terminal - it is faster than any GUI for
real work.
pwd # where am I?
ls -lah # list with sizes, hidden files
cd /var/log # change directory
cd ~ ; cd - # home; back to previous
mkdir -p proj/src # create nested dirs
cp -r src backup # copy recursively
mv old.txt new.txt # rename / move
rm -rf build/ # delete recursively (careful!)
touch notes.txt # create empty file
- / = root; ~ = home; . = current; .. = parent.
- Tab completes names; Ctrl+C kills a running command; Ctrl+R searches history.
- man ls shows the manual; command --help gives a quick summary.
- rm -rf is unforgiving - double-check the path before Enter.
Page 1
