Command line

$

>

$ whoami
Alex

> whoami
PCname\Alex

$ pwd
/home/Alex/

> cd
C:\Users\Alex

$ ls
Applications
Desktop
Downloads
Music
…

> dir
 Directory of C:\Users\Alex
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
…

$ cd Desktop
$ pwd
/home/Alex/Desktop

> cd Desktop
> cd
C:\Users\Alex\Desktop

$ mkdir practice

> mkdir practice

$ cd practice
$ mkdir test
$ ls
test

> cd practice
> mkdir test
> dir
05/08/2014 07:28 PM <DIR>  test

$ pwd
/home/Alex/Desktop/practice
$ cd ..
$ pwd
/home/Alex/Desktop

> cd
C:\Users\Alex\Desktop\practice
> cd ..
> cd
C:\Users\Alex\Desktop

$ pwd
/home/Alex/Desktop
$ rm -rv practice
removed directory: ‘practice’

> cd
C:\Users\Alex\Desktop
> rmdir /S practice
practice, Are you sure <Y/N>? Y

$ exit

{
  "data": {
    "sessionMaterial": {
      "id": "session-material:2018/pyladies-en-prague:install:1",
      "title": "Introduction to command line",
      "html": "\n          \n    \n\n    <h1>Command line</h1>\n<p>The following steps will show you how to use the black window all \nhackers use. It might look a bit scary at first but really it&apos;s \njust a prompt waiting for commands from you.</p>\n<p>What is the command line?\nThe window, which is usually called the <em>command line</em> or <em>command-line interface</em>, \nis a text-based application for viewing, handling, and manipulating files on your computer. \nIt&#x2019;s much like Windows Explorer or Finder (Mac), but without the graphical interface. \nOther names for the command line are:\n<em>cmd</em>, <em>CLI</em>, <em>prompt</em>, <em>console</em> or <em>terminal</em>.</p>\n<p>How can I open it?</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Windows (English): Start &#x2192; write &quot;cmd&quot; &#x2192; Command prompt</li>\n<li>Windows (older versions): Start menu &#x2192; All programs &#x2192; Accessories &#x2192; Command prompt</li>\n<li>macOS (English): Applications &#x2192; Utilities &#x2192; Terminal</li>\n<li>Linux (KDE): Main Menu &#x2192; search for Console</li>\n<li>Linux (GNOME): Super &#x2192; search for Terminal</li>\n</ul>\n<p>If you don&apos;t know what to do, you can try Google, ask the coach,\nor you can e-mail us.</p>\n<p>When you open the command line, you should see a white or black window that is waiting for your command.\nEach command will be prepended by the sign <code>$</code> or <code>&gt;</code> (depending on your operating system) \nand one space, but you don&#x2019;t have to type this prompt. \nYour computer will do it for you.</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix (Linux, macOS)</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$\n</span></pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt;\n</span></pre></div></div></div><p>Each operating system has slightly different set of commands for the command line, \nso make sure to follow the instructions for your operating system.</p>\n<div class=\"admonition note\"><p class=\"admonition-title\">Font size (Windows)</p>\n<p>If your font is too small you can click on the small window icon in the up right corner.\nThen choose Properties and find the Font tab where you can set a different font size.</p>\n<p><span class=\"figure\"><a href=\"/2018/pyladies-en-prague/beginners-en/cmdline/static/windows-cmd-properties.png\"><img src=\"/2018/pyladies-en-prague/beginners-en/cmdline/static/windows-cmd-properties.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of command line window\"></a></span></p>\n<p>In other operating systems, you can try:\n<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>+</kbd> and\n<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>-</kbd> (+ Shift).</p>\n</div><h2>First command</h2>\n<p>We will start with a very easy command.\nWrite <code>whoami</code> (<em>who am I?</em>)\nand press <kbd>Enter</kbd>.\nYour user ID will be shown. For example on Alex&apos; computer, it looks like this:</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span>whoami\n<span class=\"go\">Alex</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>whoami\n<span class=\"go\">PCname\\Alex</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><h2>Working directory</h2>\n<p>The command line always works from a <em>directory</em> (also <em>folder</em>).\nWe can print our working directory (also called current directory) by using the command <code>pwd</code> (Linux, MacOS)\nor <code>cd</code> (Windows). <code>pwd</code> means <em>print working directory</em> and <code>cd</code> stands for <em>current directory</em></p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">pwd</span>\n<span class=\"go\">/home/Alex/</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd\n<span class=\"go\">C:\\Users\\Alex</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><p>The current directory is often also displayed before <code>$</code> or <code>&gt;</code>, but it&apos;s\ngood to know this command in case that you get lost or if you have to\nwork on a computer that is set to display something different before <code>$</code>.</p>\n<h2>So what&apos;s in that directory?</h2>\n<p>Command <code>ls</code> or <code>dir</code> (<em>list</em> or <em>directory</em>)\nwill show us what&apos;s in the current directory: all files and\nsubfolders.</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span>ls\n<span class=\"go\">Applications</span>\n<span class=\"go\">Desktop</span>\n<span class=\"go\">Downloads</span>\n<span class=\"go\">Music</span>\n<span class=\"go\">&#x2026;</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>dir\n<span class=\"go\"> Directory of C:\\Users\\Alex</span>\n<span class=\"go\">05/08/2014 07:28 PM &lt;DIR&gt;  Applications</span>\n<span class=\"go\">05/08/2014 07:28 PM &lt;DIR&gt;  Desktop</span>\n<span class=\"go\">05/08/2014 07:28 PM &lt;DIR&gt;  Downloads</span>\n<span class=\"go\">05/08/2014 07:28 PM &lt;DIR&gt;  Music</span>\n<span class=\"go\">&#x2026;</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><h2>Change current directory</h2>\n<p>You can chnage your current directory by using the command <code>cd</code> (<em>change directory</em>) -\nfor all OSs (in Windows, if you don&apos;t specify anything after <code>cd</code>, command \nprints the <em>current directory</em> as we said earlier)\nSo after <code>cd</code> we have to write the folder&apos;s name where we want to go.\nDon&apos;t forget to check if you were successful.</p>\n<p>If you have Linux or macOS, be careful - those systems are case sensitive,\nso <code>Desktop</code> and <code>desktop</code> are two different folders!</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">cd</span> Desktop\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">pwd</span>\n<span class=\"go\">/home/Alex/Desktop</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd Desktop<span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd\n<span class=\"go\">C:\\Users\\Alex\\Desktop</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><div class=\"admonition note\"><p class=\"admonition-title\">Note for Windows users</p>\n<p>If you change directories to a different disk (to <code>D:</code> from <code>C:</code>)\nyou have to enter the disk&apos;s name (<code>D:</code>) as a special command before\nyou enter <code>cd</code>.</p>\n</div><h2>Create directory</h2>\n<p>How about creating a practice directory on your Desktop? You can do this by using the\ncommand <code>mkdir</code> (<em>make directory</em>).\nAfter that command, write the name of the folder that you want to create -\nin our case <code>practice</code>.</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span>mkdir practice\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>mkdir practice\n</pre></div></div></div><p>Now, look on your Desktop or into some other graphical program\nfor browsing folders, and check if the folder was created!</p>\n<h2>Task</h2>\n<p>In your new <code>practice</code> directory, try to create a subfolder <code>test</code> and check\nif it was created.</p>\n<p>The commands <code>cd</code>, <code>mkdir</code> and <code>ls</code> or <code>dir</code> might help you.</p>\n<div class=\"solution\" id=\"solution-0\">\n    <h3>&#x158;e&#x161;en&#xED;</h3>\n    <div class=\"solution-cover\">\n        <a href=\"/2018/pyladies-en-prague/beginners-en/cmdline/index/solutions/0/\"><span class=\"link-text\">Uk&#xE1;zat &#x159;e&#x161;en&#xED;</span></a>\n    </div>\n    <div class=\"solution-body\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n        <div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">cd</span> practice\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span>mkdir <span class=\"nb\">test</span>\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span>ls\n<span class=\"go\">test</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd practice<span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>mkdir test<span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>dir\n<span class=\"go\">05/08/2014 07:28 PM &lt;DIR&gt;  test</span>\n</pre></div></div></div>\n    </div>\n</div><h2>Cleaning</h2>\n<p>We don&apos;t want to leave a mess, so let&apos;s remove everything we did until that point.</p>\n<p>But you can&apos;t delete the folder in which you currently are.\nFirst, we need to get back to the Desktop. We can&apos;t use <code>cd Desctop</code> because in the current\nfolder, there is no Desktop.\nSo we have to go to the <em>parent directory</em> which contains the folder that you are\ncurrently in.\nTwo dots stand for the parent directory.</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">pwd</span>\n<span class=\"go\">/home/Alex/Desktop/practice</span>\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">cd</span> ..\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">pwd</span>\n<span class=\"go\">/home/Alex/Desktop</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd\n<span class=\"go\">C:\\Users\\Alex\\Desktop\\practice</span><span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd ..<span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd\n<span class=\"go\">C:\\Users\\Alex\\Desktop</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><p>Now it&apos;s time to delete the <code>practice</code> directory.\nFor that purpose, use <code>rm</code> or <code>rmdir</code>\n(<em>remove</em> or <em>remove directory</em>).</p>\n<div class=\"admonition warning\"><p class=\"admonition-title\">Warning!</p>\n<p>The command line does not have a Recycle Bin! Everything will be deleted for good.\nEvery time, make sure that you are deleting the right folder.</p>\n</div><p>In Unix, you have to write <code>rmdir -rv</code> (minus,<code>r</code>, <code>v</code>). The parameter deletes everything\n(<code>r</code> - <em>recursive</em>) inside the folder, and it prints info telling you (<code>v</code> - <em>verbose</em>) \nwhat the command is doing.</p>\n<p>In Windows, you also have to add a switch to the <code>rm</code> command to delete everything inside a\ndirectory. Here, the switch is <code>/S</code> (forward slash, <code>S</code>).</p>\n<div class=\"row side-by-side-commands\"><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Unix</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">pwd</span>\n<span class=\"go\">/home/Alex/Desktop</span>\n<span class=\"gp\">$ </span>rm -rv practice\n<span class=\"go\">removed directory: &#x2018;practice&#x2019;</span>\n</pre></div></div><div class=\"col\">\n                <h4>Windows</h4><div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>cd\n<span class=\"go\">C:\\Users\\Alex\\Desktop</span><span class=\"gp\"></span>\n<span class=\"gp\">&gt; </span>rmdir /S practice\n<span class=\"go\">practice, Are you sure &lt;Y/N&gt;? Y</span>\n</pre></div></div></div><h2>Summary</h2>\n<p>There is a table of basic commands:</p>\n<table class=\"table\">\n    <tbody><tr>\n        <th>Unix</th>\n        <th>Windows</th>\n        <th>Description</th>\n        <th>Example</th>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>cd</code></td>\n        <td><code>cd</code></td>\n        <td>change directory</td>\n        <td><code>cd test</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>pwd</code></td>\n        <td><code>cd</code></td>\n        <td>show the current directory</td>\n        <td><code>pwd</code><br><code>cd</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>ls</code></td>\n        <td><code>dir</code></td>\n        <td>list directories/files</td>\n        <td><code>ls</code><br><code>dir</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>cp</code></td>\n        <td><code>copy</code></td>\n        <td>copy a file</td>\n        <td>\n            <code>cp original.txt copy.txt</code>\n            <br>\n            <code>copy original.txt copy.txt</code>\n        </td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>mv</code></td>\n        <td><code>move</code></td>\n        <td>move a file</td>\n        <td>\n            <code>mv old.txt new.txt</code>\n            <br>\n            <code>move old.txt new.txt</code>\n        </td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>mkdir</code></td>\n        <td><code>mkdir</code></td>\n        <td>create a new directory</td>\n        <td><code>mkdir test</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>rm</code></td>\n        <td><code>del</code></td>\n        <td>delete a file</td>\n        <td><code>rm test.txt</code><br><code>del test.txt</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>rmdir /S</code></td>\n        <td><code>rm -rv</code></td>\n        <td>delete a directory</td>\n        <td><code>rm -rv testdir</code></td>\n    </tr>\n    <tr>\n        <td><code>exit</code></td>\n        <td><code>exit</code></td>\n        <td>close the window</td>\n        <td><code>exit</code></td>\n    </tr>\n</tbody></table><p>There are of course a lot more commands.\nAll the programs that you have installed on your laptop can be\nrun from the command line - usually by typing their names.\nTry for example - <code>firefox</code>, <code>notepad</code>, <code>safari</code>, or <code>gedit</code>.\nIf it&apos;s not working, ask your coach and they might help you to find an example command that works.</p>\n<p>We will use commands/programs like <code>python</code> and <code>git</code> a lot. We will install them\nin a while.\n<!--- XXX: this assumes installation is after intro to cmdline --></p>\n<h2>Exit</h2>\n<p>Now you can try one more command - the one that closes the command line window - <code>exit</code>.\nIt works the same in all operating systems.</p>\n<div class=\"highlight\"><pre><span></span><span class=\"gp\">$ </span><span class=\"nb\">exit</span>\n</pre></div><p>We will be using <code>$</code> to indicate Linux/macOS (in fact, for Unix based OS) commands\nand <code>&gt;</code> to indicate Windows commands for the rest of our course.\nThis is the convention in most materials and tutorials you will find.</p>\n\n\n        "
    }
  }
}