How to Quick-Start With Bash Commands on Ubuntu 16.04

Terminal Commands Quick Start for Ubuntu 16.04

Hi! This tutorial will guide you step-by-step on How to Getting-Started with the Bash Commands on Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus GNU/Linux.

First, this is Just a ‘Quick and Dirty’ Introduction to the Command Line by Example on the Console/Terminal Bash Shell emulator.

Most noteworthy: this Tutorial is Step-by-Step and you Can Just Getting-Started Following and Executing each Command without any Harm for your System :)

Moreover, take into account how only the ‘Practice Makes the Master‘; so ‘Take it Easy!‘ ;)

Finally, most Commands should Works also on the others Linux Shells like: Bourne, C, TC and Korn.

1. Launching Ubuntu Terminal

   Press: Ctrl+Alt+t
   Or: Cmd/Win and Search ‘terminal’
   Press “Enter” to Execute Commands on Console

   

2. To List a Directory’s Contents

   (Directories and Files included)

   ls /[path]

   For Example to List the Content of the Root Directory:

   ls /

   Or to List the Content of the Home Directory:

   ls $HOME

3. To Change Directory

   cd /[path]

   But to Go into the Home Directory simply:

   cd  

4. To Make Directories and Files

   To Create a Directory do:

   mkdir /[path]/myDirectory

   For Instance:

   mkdir $HOME/livingroom

   To Create a Blank File do:

   touch /[path]/myFile

   For Instance:

   touch $HOME/livingroom/box

   And how you could already have perceived, in my creative Examples I make use of the following Mnemonic Linking:

   • Directory -> Spatial Entity

   • File -> Thing

   And so in the Previous Command to an “Empty File” corresponds a natively “Empty Thing” like a “box”, or otherwise you may take it as a simple Label/Name ;)

5. To Copy Directories and Files

   To Copy a Single File:

   cp /[path1]/myFile1 /[path2]/

   Or also Setting a New File’s Name at the same time:

   cp /[path1]/myFile1 /[path2]/myFile2

   And to Copy Multiple Files at once:

   cp /[path]/myFile1 ... /[pathN]/myFileN 
   /[pathX]/

   (After a ” Backslash the Command is Not Executed but follows in the Next Line)
   For Instance to Copy a Single File:

   cp $HOME/livingroom/box $HOME/bedroom/

   Then to Copy a Single Directory with all its Contents:

   cp -r /[path1]/myDir1 /[path2]/

   Or Setting a New Name:

   cp -r /[path1]/myDir1 /[path2]/myDir2

   Again to Copy Multiple Directories:

   cp -r /[path1]/myDir1 ... /[path]/myDirN 
   /[path2]/

   Now for Instance to Copy a Single Directory do:

   cp -r $HOME/livingroom $HOME/hello

6. To Move Directories and Files

   Moving a Single File:

   mv /[path]/myFile1 /[path]/toTargetDirectory/myEventualNewFileName

   To Move Multiple Files:

   mv /[path]/myFile1 ... /[path]/myFileN 
   /[path]/toTargetDirectory/

   And the Same Command is Valid Also for Directories!
   Now for Instance to Move a Single File do:

   mv $HOME/livingroom/test $HOME/hello/hello

7. To Delete Directories and Files

   To Delete a File do:

   rm /[path]/myFile

   For Instance:

   rm $HOME/livingroom/test

   And to Remove a Directory do:

   rm -rf /[path]/myDirectory

   So for Example:

   rm -rf $HOME/livingroom

   “-rf” is a combination of Flags. “r” for Recursively and “f” for Forced

8. How to Get the Admin Super-Powers

   To Login as SuperUser:

   sudo su

   If Got “User is Not in Sudoers file” then see: How to Enable sudo
   Then to Logout:

   exit

   To Protect your System from the potential Damage of an Hazardous Crazy Command Execution the Logout should be executed every Time your Setup is Achieved!
   Finally, to Execute a Single Command as SuperUser:

   sudo su -c 'myCommand'

   Or:

   sudo myCommand

   So for instance to List the Protected root Directory try to run:

   sudo ls /root

9. How to Set Permissions on Ubuntu File System

   Ubuntu Permissions Quick Start

   Setting Up Permissions on Ubuntu

Here is achieved the ‘Quick&Dirty’ Initiation to the Ubuntu Command Line Sphere :)
I’ll be Back Very Soon to Show the Basics of the Apt Software Packages and Repository Administration Commands!