Command Line

Linux Commands

Terminal

A screen window that gives you access to the command-line interface.

(e.g. LXTerminal)

Command-line Interface (CLI)

Allows you to communicate with a computer using text commands.

Graphical LXTerminal

username

Username that you used to log in.

Graphical LXTerminal

username

hostname

Hostname of your device,

can be identified on a network.

Graphical LXTerminal

username

hostname

The current directory,

represented by the ~ (tilde) symbol.

This is a referal to your home directory: /home/pi

directory

Graphical LXTerminal

username

hostname

The prompt to enter a text command,

represented by the $ symbol.

directory

prompt

Directories = Folders

commands	Description
cat	Displays the contents (catalog) of the text file.
cd	Change directory. For example, the command cd Desktop moves you into the Desktop directory.
cd ..	Moves you up the directory tree to the parent directory.
cp	Makes another copy of the file.
clear	Allows you to clear the terminal.
date	Displays the time and date.
ls	Displays a list of files and folders in the current directory.
ls -l	Provides a list that includes more detail about the files. The -l parameter is a lowercase L (for long), not the numeral 1.
man	Displays the manual or description file for the command.
mv	Moves a file to a new location.
mkdir	Makes a new directory.
nano	Opens the nano text editor. To open a specific text file, add the file name; for example, nano hello opens the hello text file.
pwd	Prints the working directory (shows in which directory you are currently working in).
rm abc	Deletes (removes) the file named abc.
rmdir	Deletes (removes) a directory.
startx	Launches the Raspbian desktop interface (GUI).

Command	Description
sudo	Gives the user root or super user permissions.
sudo apt-get install abc	Tells the Raspberry Pi to use the Internet to find, download, and install the application called abc.
sudo apt-get update	Downloads information about any new versions available for applications on your Raspberry Pi.
sudo apt-get upgrade	Installs available upgrades for all applications on your Raspberry Pi.
sudo shutdown -h now	Shuts down (halts) the power to the Raspberry Pi.
sudo shutdown -r now	Shuts down the power to the Raspberry Pi and then restarts it.

Resources:

Learn the Command Line

Codecademy.com

@ https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-the-command-line

Conquer the Command Line

The MagPi Essensials eBook

@ https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/essentials-bash-vol1/

Command Line Crash Course

by Zed Shaw

@ https://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/appendixa.html

pwd

print working directory

ls

list content of directory

cd

change directory

cd ~

return to home directory

mkdir

make a new directory

nano

create and edit a file

touch

create a new empty file

rmdir

remove (delete) an empty directory

cp

copy a file

mv

move a file

less

view content of a file

Managing Files and Directories

Type the following commands into the LXTerminal window. Explain each step:

pwd
cd to desktop
ls
touch hello
leafpad hello
rm hello
cd ..

Managing Files and Directories

Type the following commands into the LXTerminal window. Explain each step:

pwd [ print working directory ]
cd Desktop [ change directory to Desktop ]
ls [ listing what is in current directory ]
touch hello [ create a file called hello ]
leafpad hello [ opens file hello in text editor leafpad ]
rm hello [ removes file hello ]
cd .. [ changes directory back up ]

Editing Files using nano text editor

Create and edit a text file in the LXTerminal window:

create a text file on the desktop.
edit the text file in the text editor.
exit text editor.
check if text file is listed in chosen directory.

Create, Edit, and Move Files and Folders

In the LXTerminal window:

create a directory called PiFu in your pi directory.
create 2 new directories (a and b) in your PiFu directory.
create 2 files (one and two) in first directory (a).
edit files using nano.
create 1 directory (f) in first directory (a).
create 1 file in directory (f).
create 3 files (three, four and five) in second directory (b).
edit files using nano.
move file (one) from directory (a) to directory (b).
move file (four) from directory (b) to directory (a).
move directory (f) to your pi directory.