By Paul Montgomery
Posted June 9, 2003, 9:20am
As Macintosh users, we love the ability to customize folders and desktop images, the convenience of drop down menus, and the effortless power that the mouse click brings us. No doubt these are the things that have brought the computer to 'the rest of us', but for anyone who has spent time in UNIX environments, it quickly becomes clear that the Graphical User Interface (GUI) represents only half of a box of tools.
Now with OSX, we can have it all.
For many computer users brought up on the GUI, getting into the command line is as intimidating as stepping into shark infested waters. Fear not. Many have stepped into these waters before you and survived. In fact, getting started is really quite easy and painless. So let's work on the intimidation thing.
Not sure what the Terminal is, or whether you are ready to take the step? Below are some common questions and answers about Terminal and the command line. At the end are some basic commands and a few useful links to several beginning to intermediate tutorials that will help you get your feet wet with wonderful world of Terminals, Shells, and the Command Line.
Q. Ummmm... what exactly IS a Terminal thingy?
A. Terminal (or Terminal.app) is a simple window that allows you to 'interface' with a computer by typing in text commands. No icons or mouse - only text. Although you can do many of the same things with a GUI that you can with a text command, there are many things that can't. Think of the GUI and command line as being different set of tools. Yes, you can pound a nail into a board with a rock but given the choice, why not use a hammer?
Q. Where is Terminal?
A. In OSX it is in your Utilities folder (located inside of your Applications folder). Regular users may want to drag it into the Dock for easy accessibility. If you are using pre OSX there are a number of terminals that can be downloaded and used as shareware. One of my favorites is Nifty Telnet which can be downloaded here.
Note: If you are using OS9 or earlier you will have to log into another computer running a UNIX/Linux style OS that is connected to your LAN or the Internet in order to use it. Finding such a computer to log into may be difficult, since a lot of people don't like total strangers coming into their computers and poking around. If you are running OSX, you can do it all right on your own computer.
Q. Why do I even need Terminal?
A. Part of OSX is inaccessible using the mouse and the GUI. It is kept from the consumer level user so they don't get into the innards and wreck the OS. The only way to gain full control of OSX is through the Terminal. It would be impossible for me to list here the things that you can do with the terminal, but here is one thing I think is worth mentioning here - any command you can type on the Terminal can be typed into just a plain text file and run as a script either manually or automatically at a specified time. This makes automating many things a breeze.
As well if you know even a few good commands, you stand a pretty good chance of impressing the opposite sex at cocktail parties. Furthermore, if you ever get thrown back into a time warp and have to deal with pre-GUI computers, you can be confident that you will be able to handle anything that comes your way.
Q. Isn't command line archaic? Like DOS?
A. A word of warning - don't say this in a room full of Linux geeks. Talk about something safer like religion or politics or make slurs against some big guy's mama. You may enter text commands like was done on DOS, but UNIX/Linux systems are DOS on steroids.
Q. Is learning this going to be hard?
A. The basics go by amazingly fast. It doesn't take long to learn them, and from there you can go as far as you like. If you like hard, there is hard. But remember folks, this is only typing. It's not a triathlon or exercise that makes you sweat.
Q. Will I ruin my computer?
A. Below are some links to tutorials that will get you started in a non life threatening way. Some of the basic commands are briefyl listed here. If you have already dabbled with the command line you may know these already. If not, take a glance at them and then go to the tutorials and get started and try these out.
And one more thing. Watch those spaces, and Enjoy!
A brief set of basic commands:- Folder ( / = a text reprentation for a folder )
- The next folder down ( ../ )
- Navigating through your hard drive ( cd = change directory )
- Change to the next folder down ( cd ../ )
- Knowing where you are ( pwd = Present Working Directory - You Are Here )
- Viewing the contents of a folder in a list ( ls )
- Copying and moving files (cp = copy and mv = move )
- Making folders ( mkdir = make directory )
