A beginner-friendly guide to navigating the command line. Learn how to move around, inspect files, get help, and understand the structure of commands using the Unix shell.
This tutorial is based on the resources at Carpentry Software
What the shell is, why it matters, and how to get set up to use it.
Compare graphical vs. command-line interfaces, and try your first shell command.
Learn to check your current location and move between folders using pwd
and cd
.
ls
Use ls
to view files and folders, and learn how to make the output more useful.
Use clear
, --help
, and help
to manage your workspace and access command instructions.
man
to Read Manual PagesLearn how to open and navigate detailed command documentation with man
.
ls
OptionsCombine multiple options like -l
, -h
, -r
, and -t
to sort and format file listings.
ls
Use ls
to look inside any folder, not just your current one, using relative paths.