PyCon intro to open source/Windows terminal navigation: Difference between revisions
imported>Jesstess (Created page with "__NOTOC__ 200px The filesystem on your computer is like a tree made up of folders (also called "directories") and files. The filesystem has a...") |
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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. |
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 |
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> |
* <code>ls</code> |
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* <code>pwd</code> |
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* <code>cd</code> |
* <code>cd</code> |
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<code> |
<code>ls</code> lists the contents of a directory.<br /> |
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<code>pwd</code> gives the full directory path to your current directory.<br /> |
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<code>cd</code> moves you into a new directory (it stands for "change directory"). |
<code>cd</code> moves you into a new directory (it stands for "change directory"). |
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Let's practice using these commands. |
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===Open a command prompt:=== |
===Open a command prompt:=== |
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<b>For this tutorial, we are always going to use Git Bash rather than the Windows cmd program, because Git Bash gives us access to several useful command line utilities.</p> |
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* On Windows Vista or Windows 7: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), type <code>cmd</code> into the Search field directly above the Start menu button, and click on "cmd" in the search results above the Search field. |
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* On Windows XP: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), click on "Run...", type <code>cmd</code> into the text box, and hit enter. |
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Start Git Bash either via a shortcut icon on the Desktop, or from your Start menu. |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
(that's an l the letter, not the number 1) |
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Type each of these commands and hit enter: |
Type each of these commands and hit enter: |
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<pre> |
<pre>ls</pre> |
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This lists all the files in your current directory. |
This lists all the files in your current directory. |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre> |
<pre>pwd</pre> |
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This |
This displays the full directory path to your current directory. |
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<br /> |
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<pre>cd /</pre> |
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⚫ | |||
<br /> |
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<pre>ls</pre> |
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This lists the contents of the <code>/</code> root directory. |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre> |
<pre>cd home</pre> |
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This |
This will change you into the <code>home</code> subdirectory of the <code>/</code> root directory. |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre> |
<pre>ls</pre> |
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You should see a list of all the files in <code>/home</code>, including the directory for your username. The directory for your username (e.g. <tt>/home/jessica</tt>) is often called your "home directory". |
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⚫ | |||
<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre> |
<pre>pwd</pre> |
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This displays the full directory path to your current directory, <code>/home</code>. |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre>cd ..</pre> |
<pre>cd ..</pre> |
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<code>..</code> means "parent directory", so this command moved you up to the parent directory. You were in <code> |
<code>..</code> means "parent directory", so this command moved you up to the parent directory. You were in <code>/home</code>, so now you are in <code>/</code>, the root directory. |
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<br /> |
<br /> |
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<pre> |
<pre>ls</pre> |
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This lists the contents of the root directory, confirming where you are. |
This lists the contents of the root directory, confirming where you are. |
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===Tips=== |
===Tips=== |
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* You can use Tab to auto-complete directory and file names. So from inside the root directory, if you type <code>cd |
* You can use Tab to auto-complete directory and file names. So from inside the root directory <tt>/</tt>, if you type <code>cd ho</code> and hit Tab, the command prompt will auto-complete the directory name, and you can then hit enter to change into the <code>/home</code> directory. |
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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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* Note that the text that makes up the command prompt changes as you move around directories. The command prompt will always give the full directory path to your current directory. |
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===Check your understanding=== |
===Check your understanding=== |
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# After starting a new command line prompt, how would you get to the root directory? |
# 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? |
# How do you check what files and directories are in your current working directory? |
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# If you are in directory <tt> |
# If you are in directory <tt>/home</tt>, and you want to get to <tt>/home/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) |
# 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 a command prompt and a Python prompt? |
# What is the difference between a command prompt and a Python prompt? |
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===Success!=== |
===Success!=== |
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You've practiced using <code> |
You've practiced using <code>ls</code>, <code>pwd</code>, and <code>cd</code> to navigate your computer's filesystem from the command prompt. |
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[[File:Champagne.png|100px]][[File:Party.png|125px]] |
[[File:Champagne.png|100px]][[File:Party.png|125px]] |
Revision as of 00:28, 10 April 2014
The filesystem on your computer is like a tree made up of folders (also called "directories") and files. The filesystem has a root directory called /, and everything on your computer lives in subdirectories of this root directory.
We often navigate the filesystem graphically by clicking on graphical folders. We can do the exact same navigation from the command line.
There are three commands that we'll be using at a command prompt to navigate the filesystem on your computer:
ls
pwd
cd
ls
lists the contents of a directory.
pwd
gives the full directory path to your current directory.
cd
moves you into a new directory (it stands for "change directory").
Let's practice using these commands.
Open a command prompt:
For this tutorial, we are always going to use Git Bash rather than the Windows cmd program, because Git Bash gives us access to several useful command line utilities.
Start Git Bash either via a shortcut icon on the Desktop, or from your Start menu.
Practice using ls
, pwd
, and cd
(that's an l the letter, not the number 1)
Type each of these commands and hit enter:
ls
This lists all the files in your current directory.
pwd
This displays the full directory path to your current directory.
cd /
This will change you into the /
root directory.
ls
This lists the contents of the /
root directory.
cd home
This will change you into the home
subdirectory of the /
root directory.
ls
You should see a list of all the files in /home
, including the directory for your username. The directory for your username (e.g. /home/jessica) is often called your "home directory".
pwd
This displays the full directory path to your current directory, /home
.
cd ..
..
means "parent directory", so this command moved you up to the parent directory. You were in /home
, so now you are in /
, the root directory.
ls
This lists the contents of the root directory, confirming where you are.
Tips
- You can use Tab to auto-complete directory and file names. So from inside the root directory /, if you type
cd ho
and hit Tab, the command prompt will auto-complete the directory name, and you can then hit enter to change into the/home
directory. - The command prompt maintains a command history. You can use the up arrow to cycle through old commands.
Check your understanding
Answer these questions. Experiment at the command line if you need to! If you aren't sure about an answer, ask a helper.
- What directory are you in after starting a new command line prompt?
- After starting a new command line prompt, how would you get to the root directory?
- How do you check what files and directories are in your current working directory?
- If you are in directory /home, and you want to get to /home/jesstess/projects, how would you do that?
- What are 2 ways to avoid typing out a full navigation command? (hint: one requires that you've run the command before)
- What is the difference between a command prompt and a Python prompt?
Success!
You've practiced using ls
, pwd
, and cd
to navigate your computer's filesystem from the command prompt.