-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 1.9k
New issue
Have a question about this project? Sign up for a free GitHub account to open an issue and contact its maintainers and the community.
By clicking “Sign up for GitHub”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy statement. We’ll occasionally send you account related emails.
Already on GitHub? Sign in to your account
Made Command Line chapter more interactive. Refs #110 #114
Closed
Closed
Changes from all commits
Commits
Show all changes
2 commits
Select commit
Hold shift + click to select a range
File filter
Filter by extension
Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
There are no files selected for viewing
This file contains bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Original file line number | Diff line number | Diff line change |
---|---|---|
@@ -1,73 +1,246 @@ | ||
# Introduction to Command Line | ||
# Introduction to the command-line interface | ||
|
||
## What is command line? | ||
Huh, it's exciting, right?! You'll write your first line of code in just a few minutes :) | ||
|
||
The following steps will show you how to use the black window all hackers use. It might look a bit scary at first, but really, it is just a prompt, waiting for commands from you. | ||
__Let us introduce you to your first new friend: the command line!__ | ||
|
||
The window, which is usually called the *command line*, is a text-based application for viewing, handling and manipulating files on your computer (much like e.g. Windows Explorer or Finder on Mac, but without the graphical interface). Other names for the command line are: *cmd*, *prompt*, *console* or *terminal*. | ||
The following steps will show you how to use the black window all hackers use. It might look a bit scary at first but really it's just a prompt waiting for commands from you. | ||
|
||
Each operating system has a slightly different set of commands for the command line. Here is a summary of some useful commands: | ||
## What is the command line? | ||
|
||
| Command (Windows) | Command (Mac OS / Linux) | Description | Example| | ||
| ------------- |-----------|-------------| -----| | ||
| exit | exit | close the window | **exit** | | ||
| cd | cd | change directory | **cd test** | | ||
| dir | ls |list directories/files | **dir** | | ||
| copy | cp | copy file | **copy c:\test\test.txt c:\windows\test.txt** | | ||
| move | mv | move file | **move c:\test\test.txt c:\windows\test.txt** | | ||
| mkdir | mkdir | create a new directory | **mkdir testdirectory** | | ||
|del | rm | delete a directory/file | **del c:\test\test.txt** | ||
The window, which is usually called the __command line__ or __command-line interface__, is a text-based application for viewing, handling and manipulating files on your computer (much like e.g. Windows Explorer or Finder on Mac, but without the graphical interface). Other names for the command line are: *cmd*, *CLI*, *prompt*, *console* or *terminal*. | ||
|
||
These are just a very few of the commands you can run in your command line. To learn more about them, check out the **Further Information** section below. | ||
## Open the command-line interface | ||
|
||
[ss64.com](http://ss64.com) contains a complete reference of commands for all operating systems. | ||
To start some experiments we need to open our command-line interface first. | ||
|
||
## Useful shortcuts | ||
### Windows | ||
|
||
* **Up arrow** - rerun previous commands. You can avoid typing the same commands again and again by using the up arrow key to cycle through recently used commands. | ||
Go to Start menu → All Programs → Accessories → Command Prompt. | ||
|
||
* **Tab key** - the tab key autocompletes directory and file names. For example, if you type `dir t` and then use `TAB`, the command line will try to match this to existing files in your current directory and autocomplete the name for you. Meaning, if your directory contains a file called `test.txt`, typing `dir t` and `TAB` will autocomplete to `dir test.txt`. | ||
### Mac OS X | ||
|
||
## Further information on some of the above commands | ||
Applications → Utilities → Terminal. | ||
|
||
* **exit** - closes your command prompt. This makes sense, right? No need to explain too much... | ||
### Linux | ||
|
||
* **cd** - allows you to go to another directory. To go to a directory contained within your current directory, type `cd subdirectory` (where you replace subdirectory with the name of the directory you want to go to) and press enter. | ||
It's probably under Applications → Accessories → Terminal, but that may depend on your version system. If it's not there, just Google it :) | ||
|
||
**For example:** let's say you are in a directory called `c:\test` with three sub-directories: `documents`, `photos` and `music`. | ||
## Prompt | ||
|
||
c | ||
└───test | ||
documents | ||
photos | ||
music | ||
You know should see a white or black window that is waiting for your commands. | ||
|
||
To go from `test` to the `documents` subdirectory, simply type `cd documents` and press enter. You are now in `c:\test\documents`. | ||
If you're on Mac or Linux, you probably see `$`, just like this: | ||
|
||
To move back to the `c:\test` directory (or generally, to move 'up' one level), type `cd ..` (`cd` followed by two full stops). | ||
$ | ||
|
||
On Windows, it's a `>` sign, like this: | ||
|
||
* **dir** (Windows) / **ls** (others) - lists files and directories located in your current directory. If you type `dir` or `ls`, respectively, you will see the contents of the directory you're currently in. | ||
Note that for some commands you can use the `*` (asterisk) symbol, which stands for *all* and is often called a *wildcard*. With this in mind, try typing `dir *.txt` for Windows or `ls *.txt` for other OS to only list files that end with `.txt`. | ||
> | ||
|
||
Each command will be prepended by this and one space, but you don't have to type it. Your computer will do it for you :) | ||
|
||
* **copy** (Windows) / **cp** (others) - allows you to copy files from one location to another. To use this command, type `copy sourcefile targetfile` (where sourcefile is the name/path of the file you want to copy, and targetfile is the name you want to give to the copy you are creating). | ||
> Just a small note: in your case there maybe something like `C:\Users\ola>` or `Olas-MacBook-Air:~ ola$` before the prompt sign and that's 100% correct. In this tutorial we will just simplify it to the bare minimum. | ||
|
||
**For example**: if you have the file `c:\test\test.txt` and you would like to create a copy at `c:\windows\test.txt`, type: | ||
## Your first command! \o/ | ||
|
||
copy c:\test\test.txt c:\windows\test.txt | ||
Let's start with something simple. Type this command: | ||
|
||
$ whoami | ||
|
||
* **move** (Windows) / **mv** (others) - allows you to move files from one location to another. The syntax you use is the same as for the `copy`/`cp` command. | ||
or | ||
|
||
> whoami | ||
|
||
* **mkdir** - allows you to create a new directory. For example, `mkdir temp` creates a new directory called `temp` in the current directory. | ||
And then hit Enter. This is our result: | ||
|
||
$ whoami | ||
olasitarska | ||
|
||
* **del** (Windows) / **rm** (others) - allows you to delete the specified file. For example, `del test.txt` deletes the `test.txt` file from the current directory. **!!!ATTENTION!!!** Deleting files using `del` or `rm` is irrecoverable, meaning _deleted files will be gone forever_! So, be very careful with this command. | ||
As you can see, the computer just presented you your username. Neat, huh?:) | ||
|
||
> Try to type each command, do not copy paste. You'll remember more this way! | ||
|
||
## Basics | ||
|
||
Each operating system has a slightly different set of commands for the command line, so make sure to follow instructions for your operating system. Let's try this, shall we? | ||
|
||
### Current directory | ||
|
||
It'd be nice to know where are we now, right? Let's see. Type this command and hit enter: | ||
|
||
$ pwd | ||
/Users/olasitarska | ||
|
||
If you're on Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd | ||
C:\Users\olasitarska | ||
|
||
You'll probably see something similiar on your machine. Once you open the command line you usually start at your user's home directory. | ||
|
||
--- | ||
|
||
### List files and directories | ||
|
||
What's in it? It'd be cool to find out. Let's see: | ||
|
||
$ ls | ||
Applications | ||
Desktop | ||
Downloads | ||
Music | ||
... | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> dir | ||
Directory of C:\Users\olasitarska | ||
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR> Applications | ||
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR> Desktop | ||
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR> Downloads | ||
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR> Music | ||
... | ||
|
||
--- | ||
|
||
### Change current directory | ||
|
||
Maybe we can now go to our Desktop directory? | ||
|
||
$ cd Desktop | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd Desktop | ||
|
||
Check if it's really changed: | ||
|
||
$ pwd | ||
/Users/olasitarska/Desktop | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd | ||
C:\Users\olasitarska\Desktop | ||
|
||
Here it is! | ||
|
||
> PRO tip: if you type `cd D` and then hit `tab` on your keyboard, the command line will automatically autofill the rest of the name so you can navigate faster. If there is more than one folder starting with "D", hit the `tab` button twice to get a list of options. | ||
|
||
--- | ||
|
||
### Create directory | ||
|
||
How about creating a Django Girls directory on your desktop? You can do it this way: | ||
|
||
$ mkdir djangogirls | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> mkdir djangogirls | ||
|
||
This little command will create a folder with the name `djangogirls` on your desktop. You can check if it's there just by looking on your Desktop or by running a `ls`/`dir` command! Try it :) | ||
|
||
> PRO tip: If you don't want to type the same commands over and over, try pressing the `up arrow` and `down arrow` on your keyboard to cycle through recently used commands. | ||
|
||
--- | ||
|
||
### Exercise! | ||
|
||
Small challenge for you: in your newly created `djangogirls` directory create a directory called `test`. Use `cd` and `mkdir` commands. | ||
|
||
#### Solution: | ||
|
||
$ cd djangogirls | ||
$ mkdir test | ||
$ ls | ||
test | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd djangogirls | ||
> mkdir test | ||
> dir | ||
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR> test | ||
|
||
Congrats! :) | ||
|
||
--- | ||
|
||
### Clean up | ||
|
||
We don't want to leave a mess, so let's remove everything we did until that point. | ||
|
||
First, we need to get back to Desktop: | ||
|
||
$ cd .. | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd .. | ||
|
||
Making `cd` to `..` will change your current directory to the parent directory (which means the directory that contain your current directory). | ||
|
||
Check where you are: | ||
|
||
$ pwd | ||
/Users/olasitarska/Desktop | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> cd | ||
C:\Users\olasitarska\Desktop | ||
|
||
Now time to delete the `djangogirls` directory: | ||
|
||
$ rm -r djangogirls | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> rmdir /S djangogirls | ||
djangogirls, Are you sure <Y/N>? Y | ||
|
||
Done! To be sure it's actually deleted, let's check it: | ||
|
||
$ ls | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> dir | ||
|
||
> __Attention__: Deleting files using `del`, `rmdir` or `rm` is irrecoverable, meaning _deleted files will be gone forever_! So, be very careful with this command. | ||
|
||
### Exit | ||
|
||
That's it for now! You can safely close the command line now. Let's do it the hacker way, all right?:) | ||
|
||
$ exit | ||
|
||
Windows: | ||
|
||
> exit | ||
|
||
Cool, huh?:) | ||
|
||
## Summary | ||
|
||
Here is a summary of some useful commands: | ||
|
||
| Command (Windows) | Command (Mac OS / Linux) | Description | Example | | ||
| ----------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | ||
| exit | exit | close the window | **exit** | | ||
| cd | cd | change directory | **cd test** | | ||
| dir | ls | list directories/files | **dir** | | ||
| copy | cp | copy file | **copy c:\test\test.txt c:\windows\test.txt** | | ||
| move | mv | move file | **move c:\test\test.txt c:\windows\test.txt** | | ||
| mkdir | mkdir | create a new directory | **mkdir testdirectory** | | ||
|del | rm | delete a directory/file | **del c:\test\test.txt** | | ||
|
||
These are just a very few of the commands you can run in your command line but you're not going to use anything more than that today. | ||
|
||
If you're curious, [ss64.com](http://ss64.com) contains a complete reference of commands for all operating systems. | ||
|
||
## Ready? | ||
|
||
Let's dive into Python! |
This file contains bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
This file contains bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.
This suggestion is invalid because no changes were made to the code.
Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is closed.
Suggestions cannot be applied while viewing a subset of changes.
Only one suggestion per line can be applied in a batch.
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.
Applying suggestions on deleted lines is not supported.
You must change the existing code in this line in order to create a valid suggestion.
Outdated suggestions cannot be applied.
This suggestion has been applied or marked resolved.
Suggestions cannot be applied from pending reviews.
Suggestions cannot be applied on multi-line comments.
Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is queued to merge.
Suggestion cannot be applied right now. Please check back later.
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Choose a reason for hiding this comment
The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.
Is it really
cd
on windows?There was a problem hiding this comment.
Choose a reason for hiding this comment
The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.
Yes, tested it! Windows is weird..