Finding Your Way
Where you are, what's around you, and how to get anywhere, without a mouse.
Updated
Where You Are
- Where Am I? pwd and Paths (Novice): The terminal always works in one folder at a time, and pwd tells you which one as a path, the folder's address read from the top of the computer down to you.
- Looking Around: ls (Novice): ls lists what's in a folder, ls -a adds the hidden names that start with a dot, and ls -l shows each one's details, such as whether it's a folder, its size and when it last changed.
Getting Around
- Moving Around: cd, .. and ~ (Novice): cd moves the terminal into another folder, by a folder's name, up one level with .., home with ~ or anywhere with a full path, and cd - takes you back to where you just were.
- Let the Shell Type for You: Tab (Novice): Press Tab and the shell finishes a file or folder name for you, press it twice to see every name that fits, and let it type the backslashes that a name with spaces needs.
Exercise: Find Your Way
- Exercise: Find Your Way (Novice): Explore a summer camp made of folders with pwd, ls, cd and Tab, write down what you find, and let a check script tell you which answers are right.