Command Line

A reference

cd

cd <directory-name>

  • Changes directory to "directory-name" within current directory
  • Changing directories is always relative to your current directory
  • Use tab to autocomplete directory names
  • . refers to the current directory
  • .. refers to the parent of the current directory
  • ~ refers to the user's home directory
  • Use / to string multipe commands together

Examples:

  • cd example
  • cd ../..
  • cd ~/Desktop

ls

ls

  • Lists all items within the current directory

Examples:

  • ls

mkdir

mkdir <dir-name>

  • Creates a new directory named "dir-name"
  • Can be used to create new directory within a different directory

Examples:

  • mkdir new
  • mkdir example/new

mv

mv <one> <two>

  • Used to move or rename files or directories
  • mv -r should be used to move entire directories

Examples:

  • mv old.txt new.txt
  • mv dir-old/ dir-new/
  • mv hello.txt ~/Desktop/example/.
  • mv hello.txt ~/Desktop/example/goodbye.txt
  • mv -r full-dir ~/Desktop/stuff

cp

cp <one.txt> <two.txt>

  • Used to copy files or directories
  • cp -r should be used to copy entire directories

Examples:

  • cp one.txt two.txt
  • cp -r dir-one/ dir-two/
  • cp hello.txt ~/Desktop/example/.
  • cp hello.txt ~/Desktop/example/goodbye.txt
  • cp -r full-dir ~/Desktop/stuff

rm

rm <one.txt>

  • Used to delete files or directories
  • Be careful with rm. Once deleted, it's gone!
  • rm -r should be used to delete entire directories

Examples:

  • rm one.txt
  • rm -r dir-one/