Boston Python Workshop 6/Friday/OSX terminal navigation: Difference between revisions
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imported>Jesstess (Created page with "There are three commands that we'll be using at a command prompt to navigate the filesystem on your computer: * <code>ls</code> * <code>pwd</code> * <code>cd</code> <code>ls<...") |
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__NOTOC__ |
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The filesystem on your computer is like a tree made up of directories and files. The filesystem has a root directory called <tt>/</tt>, and everything on your computer lives in subdirectories of this root directory. |
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We often navigate the filesystem graphically by clicking on graphical folders. We can do the exact same navigation from the command line. |
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There are three commands that we'll be using at a command prompt to navigate the filesystem on your computer: |
There are three commands that we'll be using at a command prompt to navigate the filesystem on your computer: |
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* <code>ls</code> |
* <code>ls</code> |
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===Practice using <code>ls</code>, <code>pwd</code>, and <code>cd</code>=== |
===Practice using <code>ls</code>, <code>pwd</code>, and <code>cd</code>=== |
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(that's an l the letter, not the number 1) |
(that's an l the letter, not the number 1) |
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Before you practice these commands, let's make sure you are really at a terminal prompt. Recall that a terminal prompt will look like <code>jesstess$</code> and a Python prompt will look like <code>>>></code>. Make sure you are at a terminal prompt and not a Python prompt; if you are at a Python prompt, you can type <code>exit()</code> on a line by itself and then hit enter to exit Python and return to a terminal prompt. Great! |
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Type each of these commands and hit enter: |
Type each of these commands and hit enter: |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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===Absolute v. relative paths=== |
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When navigating the filesystem, you can use 2 kinds of paths: absolute and relative. |
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<b>Absolute paths</b> |
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* An absolute path contains the full set of directories from the root of the file system up to your target file or directory. On OS X, an absolute path starts with <tt>/</tt>. |
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* You can <tt>cd</tt> to an absolute path from anywhere on the filesystem. |
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* This is an example absolute path: <tt>/Users/jesstess/projects</tt> |
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<b>Relative paths</b> |
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* A relative path is calculated relative to your "current working directory" -- the directory you are currently in at a command prompt, as displayed by <tt>pwd</tt>. |
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* This is an example relative path: <tt>projects</tt>. That path only has meaning given a current working directory. If your current working directory were <tt>/Users/jesstess</tt>, then <tt>cd projects</tt> would take you to <tt>/Users/jesstess/projects</tt> assuming that such a directory existed. If you were in <tt>/Users/brad/Desktop</tt>, then <tt>cd projects</tt> would take you to <tt>/Users/brad/Desktop/projects</tt>. |
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===Tips=== |
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* The command prompt maintains a command history. You can use the up arrow to cycle through old commands. |
* The command prompt maintains a command history. You can use the up arrow to cycle through old commands. |
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===Review=== |
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Answer these questions. Experiment at the command line if you need to! If you aren't sure about an answer, ask a helper. |
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# What directory are you in after starting a new command line prompt? |
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# After starting a new command line prompt, how would you get to the root directory? |
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# How do you check what files and directories are in your current working directory? |
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# If you are in directory <tt>/Users</tt>, and you want to get to <tt>/Users/jesstess/projects</tt>, how would you do that? |
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# What are 2 ways to avoid typing out a full navigation command? (hint: one requires that you've run the command before) |
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# What is the difference between <tt>cd projects</tt> and <tt>cd /projects</tt>? |
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===Success!=== |
===Success!=== |