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Navigate

`ls`

list all files and folders inside your current working directory. The current working directory is the folder where your terminal is open.

shell

ls -a

Include hidden files in the list

`cd`

bash

cd folderName   # Change the current directory to a folder inside it.

Navigate to a folder inside the current directory

Example: cd documents changes the directory from ~ to Documents.

shell

cd ..

move up one directory

Example: cd .. changes the directory from ~/Documents to ~/.

bash

 $ cd ~    # The `~` sign is a shortcut to `/Users/yourUserName/`

Navigate to the home directory

bash

 $ cd ~/Documents    # Make any folder your current working directory by writing its path from the root `/` directory or from the home `~` directory.

This command will make Documents the current working directory.

bash

 $ cd /    # Make the root folder the current directory.

`pwd`

bash

pwd   # Print Working Directory.

Know which directory your terminal is open at. Get a path from the root / folder down to your current working directory.

`clear`

bash

clear    # Clears the terminal screen.

Command Structure

`command -options arguments`

bash

ls -a Documents   # `ls` is the command, `-a` is an option, and `Documents` is the argument.

Edit

`cat`

bash

cat file.txt   # Read a text file inside the terminal.

`open`

bash

open file.txt   # Open a file or folder inside the current directory.

You can edit the file, save it, then get back to the terminal. Also, opens Folders in Finder and any type of file. When opening a file, the extension must be added after the name.

bash

open file.pdf   # Open any type of file. Add the extension to the end of the name.

bash

open folder   # Can open folders in `Finder`.

Example: open ~/documents opens the documents folder in Finder.

`touch`

bash

touch newFile.txt   # Create a new empty text file inside the current directory.

bash

touch ~/desktop/newFile.txt   # Create a new empty text file inside any directory by adding a path.

This command will create a new text file named newFile.txt on the Desktop folder.

`nano`

bash

nano fileName   # Create, read, or edit a text file inside the terminal.

ctrl+x to exit, Y to save changes, then confirm the name of the file.

bash

nano ~/desktop/fileName   # Create or edit a text file directly on the `Desktop` without changing the current working directory to Desktop first.

`echo`

bash

echo "line to add" >> <fileName>   # Add a line of text to a file on the fly (without opening the file)

bash

echo "alias ..='cd ..'" >> ~/.zshrc   # Add an alias directly without the need to open or navigate.

Organize

`mkdir`

bash

mkdir newFolder # Create a new folder in the current working directory. Stands for make directory.

bash

mkdir ~/Documents/newFolder   # Create a new folder inside `Documents` without changing the current working directory to `Documents`.

`rm-r`

bash

rm -r folderName    # Delete files or folders without asking for confirmation!

`mv`

bash

mv Source Destination   # Move a file or folder from source to destination.

bash

mv ~/Documents/folder1 ~/Desktop/folder1    # Cut and paste between two different directories. Move the folder `folder1` from Docouments to Desktop.

bash

mv folder1 ~/Desktop/folder1    # Cut and paste from the current working directory. Move the folder `folder1` from the current working directory to the Desktop.

bash

mv fileName.jpeg newFileName.jpeg    # Rename in the same folder.

bash

mv oldName ~/Documents/newName    # Move and rename, from the current directory to Documents.

bash

mv ~/Documents/oldName ~/Documents/newName    # Rename files and folders in any directory. Rename a folder in Documents.

`cp`

bash

cp Source Destination # Copy a file or folder, from a source to a destination.

bash

cp file.txt folder # Copy a file into a folder. Both are inside the current directory.

bash

cp file.txt file2.txt   # Duplicate file.txt inside the current directory and name the duplicate `file2.txt`.

bash

cp ~/Desktop/file2.txt ~/Documents/file2.txt   # Copy a file from a directory to another without changing the current directory. file2.txt will be copied from Desktop to Documents.

bash

 $ cp -R folder1 ~/Documents/folder1   # Copy folders, by adding the `-R` option to the `cp` command. The `cp` command works on files by default. To make it work on folders, add the `-R` option.

`du`

bash

du -sh    # Get the total size of the current directory.

bash

du -sh ~/Documents    # Get the total size of any directory writing its address.

bash

du -sh *    # Get the size of each file and folder in the current directory.

bash

du -sh ~/documents/*    # Get the size of each file and folder in any direcotry.

Be More Efficient

Wildcards

bash

cd  ~/Doc*    # Use wildcards to be lazy and avoid writing long names. This command will change the current directory to the `Documents` folder. Could also just press tab for autocompletion.

bash

ls *.pdf    # Use wildcards creatively with other commands to do more. This command will only list pdf files inside our current directory.

Aliases

bash

alias name='command'    # Shortcuts to write a shorter version to a command.

bash

alias ..='cd ..'    # Make an alias `..` as a shortcut to `cd ..`

To make an alias permenant add it to one of those text files: ~/.bash_profile ~/.zshrc

Tabs

cmd + T To open a new tab.

cmd + 2 Cmd and the tab number, to switch between tabs.

A minimal look

text

 ps1='$ '    # Remove everything before the `$` sign by adding this line to the `.zshrc`, or `.bash_profile` files.

Dealing with spaces

bash

touch 'new file.txt'    # Wrap the name of a file or folder in '' if they have spaces in their names.

`man`

bash

man du    # Use the `man` command on any command to open the manual and read more about how it works.

`alt + click`

alt + click To specify where to write instead of using the keyboard arrows.

Remember not to try to memorize commands it will happen automatically. You can refer to the command line cheat sheet when you get stuck.

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