Navigate directories with cd, ls, pwd
Master the fundamental navigation commands. Learn how to move between folders (cd), list contents (ls with flags like -la), and check your current location (pwd). These are the foundation of all terminal work.
Create/delete files and folders (touch, mkdir, rm, rmdir)
Understand file system manipulation. Learn safe deletion practices with rm -i, recursive operations with -r, and the dangers of rm -rf. Practice creating nested directories with mkdir -p.
View and edit files (cat, nano, vim basics)
Start with cat for viewing, less for pagination, and nano for simple editing. Learn vim's basic modes (insert, normal, command) and essential commands (:w, :q, i, esc) for when it's the only editor available.
File permissions (chmod, chown)
Understand the rwx permission system, numeric notation (755, 644), and when to change permissions. Learn about ownership and why certain files need specific permissions for security.
Process management (ps, kill, top)
Monitor system resources with top/htop, find process IDs with ps aux | grep, and safely terminate processes. Understand signals (SIGTERM vs SIGKILL) and when to use each.
Package managers (apt, brew, npm, pip)
Learn your system's package manager (apt for Ubuntu, brew for Mac). Understand global vs local installation, dependency management, and how to resolve version conflicts.
Environment variables and PATH
Master export, echo $VAR, and editing .bashrc/.zshrc. Understand how PATH works, why command not found errors occur, and how to add custom scripts to your PATH.
Piping and redirection (>, >>, |)
Chain commands together with pipes, redirect output to files, and append vs overwrite. Learn powerful combinations like command 2>&1 for capturing errors.
grep, find, and searching
Master pattern matching with grep and regex basics, find files by name/size/date, and combine with other commands. Learn about recursive searching and excluding directories.
Aliases and basic scripting
Create shortcuts for common commands, write simple bash scripts with variables and loops, and make scripts executable. Learn shebang notation and basic error handling.