Command-line Basics

A blinking bar in a pitch-black background.

Console, terminal, shell, command-prompt: It comes in many names and flavors.

Many are not aware that the command-line interface plays an important role. Whether as a tool that revolutionized the computing industry, or a tv-inspired device turned into an iPhone app – this too won’t be replaced any time soon.

And if you’re a programmer or web-developer, knowing a thing or two about basic shell commands doesn’t hurt at all. In fact, you might even find it addicting. Not only does it boost productivity (faster processing), you can do cool things that GUIs cannot.

Access apps via SSH

Every WebEnabled environment comes with its own SSH (Secure shell) access (username & password). Windows users actually find it very easy to set-up. Linux and Mac machines come with a terminal program.

Common command-line tasks

Find Files

When building web-apps it’s impossible to keep track of all the files & folders, especially when you have downloaded tons of modules, components, or themes.

Manage Files

It’s also possible to manipulate your apps files in order to structure them to the way you need.

Acquire Files from another server

When getting files from a remote server, you don’t have to download files to your local machine and upload them again. Save bandwidth by using these tools.

Learning new commands

Use these if you wish to know more about a specific command.

Learning resources

If you want to get serious with shell commands, take a look at these resources: