Terminal

Ther Terminal is a simple program that uses a text-based interface (read, words) for file navigation and running programs.

Why use it: It makes file paths obvious, which is convenient for coding.

Essential commands:

• ls = list files
• cd folder/ = change directory
• cd .. = go up one level
• mv {old/file} {new/file} = move file from old folder to new folder
• mv {old/} {new/} = rename directory from old to new
• python file.py = run Python script called file.py

Shortcuts:

• $, %, > = command prompt, whenever you open the terminal, this is the last symbol displayed by the terminal, you type your commands after it
  • Before the command prompt, terminals typically display the folder you are currently in.
• ~ = your home folder, e.g. /home/blake/ is equivalent
• / = system root, the folder that contains all other folders
• . = current folder
• .. = parent folder
• {x} = curly brackets often represent the path to the folder or file you want to manipulate. You don’t actually type the curly brackets into the terminal.
  • A path is either the location of a folder, or the location of a file.
  • The Documents folder in my home folder has the path:
    • ~/Documents/
    • /home/blake/Documents
  • A file in my Documents folder called ex.py has the path:
    • ~/Documents/ex.py
    • /home/blake/Documents/ex.py