Command line — cheat sheet

From: fundamentals/05-command-line.md.

• Command line / terminal / shell / console / cmd: interchangeable names for a textual interface to control the computer, as opposed to a GUI file browser.
• Unix-based (macOS, Linux) terminals share the same core commands; Windows isn't Unix-based, so a Unix-compatible layer (git bash, or WSL2 for a full Linux env) is needed to use them there.
• Working directory: the one folder you're "in" at any time (like a file browser's currently open folder). pwd prints it.
• Paths:
  • absolute — from the filesystem root, works regardless of current directory.
  • relative — relative to the current working directory.
  • . = current directory, .. = parent directory, ~ = home directory. Combinable (cd ~/Code, cd ~/..).
• Commands take arguments, space-separated, like a function call. man <command> opens its manual.

Command reference

Command	Does
pwd	print working directory
cd <path>	change directory
ls / ls -la	list directory contents / with details + hidden files
mkdir <name>	create a directory
touch <name>	create an empty file
mv <src> <dest>	move (or rename) a file/folder
cp <src> <dest>	copy a file/folder
rm <path>	delete a file, immediately and permanently
rm -r <path>	delete a folder recursively, immediately and permanently

&& chains commands: mkdir example && cd example.

Careful: rm/rm -r delete immediately with no trash/recycle bin — there's no undo, so double check the path first.