Linux Terminal Basics

When I first intalled linux I was looking through the applications and came across the terminal. The terminal will be the main focus of this instructable. While the terminal can be used to do great things, these great things can be good or bad. For example using the terminal you can copy files, install programs, unzip and extract packages, but you can also delete files that are crucial to the system. so until you learn a decent amount about this topic don't use the terminal as root unless absolutely necessary. For this you will need: a computer, a linux distro installed on your computer(I will be using Ubuntu Feisty Fawn 7.04), and common sense. I will stage this instructable in three main steps: basic commands, installing packages(zip files in windows), tweaking your terminal to your liking. Since this instructable will mainly be text based don't expect a lot of pictures. If you do however have a suggestion please post a comment.

Step 1 Basic Terminal Commands

Keep in mind that the following commands are just a few of the many that exist. I included these because they are often the most frequently used. If you would an entire list go here.

cal-display a calendar
cat-display contents of a file
cd-change directory
chmod-change access permisions
clear-clear the terminal screen
cp-copy file(s) to another location
date-display date
echo-display a message in the terminal screen
exit-close the terminal window
find-search for file(s)
install-(this is where common sense is used...)
ls-list info for file(s) from whatever directory you are in
man-help
netstat-displays network statistics
ping-test network connection
su-change to root user
su (user name)-change to name in parentathes
wget-retrieve files from the internet

Comments

[rapidprototyping]

I highly recomend getting the (Linux Bible) it has a cd and dvd with every iteraion of linux its live cd boots on any windows computer without efecting the bios and uses blank space on the harddrive as swap file so when its done there are no files remains as long as you dont save things your just booting from the disc. and from what i understand you can load this onto thumb drive allowing you to repair other windows pc's that are broken because you will be able to read the files and that inclueds error files that indicate what the is wrong in firast place. So if you want learn linux systems get a bible on amazon i got mine for ten bucks including shipping but normal price is twenty plus shipping well worth the price of admuission for history section alone.
everyone sems to get ride pc well before there usefullness is really used up. i was amazed how linux recognized my dvd usb port and video card licity split my monitor as well but grudgingly. this is great way to use old pc and with all the info in trhe bible and the resources it points out you can have full media pc if you read da book dat is da linux bible book

[devinwhite717]

The linux command linux can be a bit confusing for new linux users but when you are familiar with them you can do your job faster

[x z i t]

hey, my names tim :)

[ll.13]

Oh well, Terminal is also known as Konsole in KDE glxinfo will tell you the state of your graphics fglrxinfo (may not work for all distros) will tell you your graphics drivers glxgears is an app. which tests your graphics card. any program can be run by typing it's name in the terminal but you must keep the terminal up. to install a .run file put sh_(space) and drag the file into the terminal to compy the directory. that's enough for now.

[ultrauber]

That's kinda obvious, judging by how it says "Konsole (terminal)." I don't think he needs to put it there. And I think very few people actually use KDE (you and me is all I know). Most are on Ubuntu (sucks), because it's all advertized. KDE is awesome...what distro do you have it one? I've got MepisLite.

[A.C.E.]

hey i have xubuntu, does that suck too? it is lightweight ubuntu running kde script because my computer couldnt handle ubuntu.

[octavian234]

no i like fedora

[ultrauber]

I've never tried it, but I hear it runs XCF (or XFC, not sure). Ubuntu doesn't suck, it's just Gnome. Your preference is your opinion. I know MepisLite is designed for bad 'puters, that's why I had it, but it's an old distro and they don't make it with anything higher then KDE 3.5. Every Linux terminal is Bash, though, so no worries about language.

[ll.13]

Actually KDE/Gnome are the main GUI's used. Ubuntu I guess is okay, but I don't like the mass popularity about it. =)

distro: well mainly, Pardus, & Mandriva

[ultrauber]

GUI? What's that? You seem to know a lot, if I were you, I'd take sardines454's offer to collaborate.

[ll.13]

Graphical User Interface, ;)

[ultrauber]

OK, thanks.

[sardines454]

what do you want me to do with that? add it in? add you as collaborator? what?

[Hat maker boy]

I cant configure it, this is the output: austin@Austin:~/Phun$ ./configure bash: ./configure: No such file or directory

[Dont blame me if Im wrong]

ok how did you make Ubuntu look so much like os x. i have feisty too but don't use it much because i don't get how to scan for aviable wi-fi networks. if you know how to scan for networks please reply

[sardines454]

Q: How did you make Ubuntu look so much like osx?
A: Check out this site, that's what I did.
Q: How to scan for available networks?
A: Check this out

If this doesn't help please let me know and I'll try again

[gammatron]

http://tldp.org/LDP/GNU-Linux-Tools-Summary/html/index.html

[Thelrin]

. It's a great start, but needs more work. . I'm with gmoon, you need command examples. A screen dump usually does well. . The install step is good, but could use a little more explanation of the whys.

[Thelrin]

Sorry everybody, there was a bit of a mix-up. This comment was meant to be posted by Mitten instead of me.

[sardines454]

if you want to collaborate it let me know, you can share you knowledge!

[gmoon]

You could improve this by including a short example of the use of each listed command. Even the link to the external list doesn't have usage info.

At least add how to get help for a cmd using man ( su for instance):

man su

Will return the 'manual' for the su command. Works with the programs (man "cmd") on your list.

[sardines454]

if you want to collaborate it let me know, you can share you knowledge!