.. _basic-terminal-commands: How to Do Stuff in the Terminal =============================== There are many commands we can use in the terminal to move through the filesystem of our computers. The list below shows some of the common actions programmers take. Clicking on a link in the table will lead to a :ref:`tutorial ` on how to use that command. .. list-table:: Basic Terminal Commands :header-rows: 1 + - Command - Result + - ``ls`` - :ref:`Lists ` all files and folders in the current directory. + - ``cd directory_path`` - :ref:`Change directory `. Navigates from the current directory to the new ``directory_path``. + - ``pwd`` - :ref:`Print working directory `. Prints the path of the current directory. + - ``mkdir folder_name`` - :ref:`Make directory `. Creates ``folder_name`` inside the current directory. + - ``touch new_filename`` - :ref:`Creates a file ` called ``new_filename`` in the current directory. + - ``rm file_name`` - :ref:`Removes ` ``file_name`` from the current directory. + - ``man command`` - :ref:`Manual `. Prints to the screen the manual pages for the ``command``. This includes the proper syntax and a description of how that command works. + - ``clear`` - :ref:`Empties ` the terminal window of old commands and output. + - ``cp source_path target_path`` - :ref:`Copies ` the file or directory at ``source_path`` and puts it in the ``target_path``. + - ``mv source_path target_path`` - :ref:`Moves ` the file or directory at ``source_path`` from its current location to ``target_path``. .. admonition:: Note #. ``rm`` permanently deletes items from the computer. This action cannot be undone. #. Git Bash does not support ``man``. Instead, ``command --help`` provides a similar result. Beyond these basic commands, there are some shortcuts we can use in place of typing out a full path or directory name. .. list-table:: Directory Shortcuts :header-rows: 1 :widths: auto + - Shortcut - Where it goes + - ``~`` - The Home directory + - ``.`` - The current directory + - ``..`` - The parent directory of the current directory .. admonition:: Tip If we type the first few letters of a directory name and tap the *Tab* key, the terminal will often automatically complete the name for us! :: $ ls homework really_long_directory_name README.md docs $ cd re <-- Tap the Tab key $ cd really_long_directory_name <-- Presto! Check Your Understanding ------------------------ .. admonition:: Question Which terminal command deletes a file completely from the computer? .. raw:: html

.. Answer = b .. admonition:: Question Which shortcut takes you to the parent directory? .. raw:: html

.. Answer = a