| The Linux terminal window is pretty daunting at first | | | | you are one direcory deeper. So the first "/" is the |
| glance. There is nothing to click. Just a shell prompt | | | | bottommost level of the file system. It's like the big |
| (usually a $ sign) staring at you, awaiting your | | | | folder that holds everything. The "/" directory is called |
| commands. That is actually part of the beauty of the | | | | "root". And root is the main directory containing |
| linux command line--it doesn't assume you are stupid. | | | | everything. In root is your home directory which on |
| It will dutifully execute your commands and assume | | | | the command line looks like this: |
| you know what you are doing. If you tell it to delete | | | | /home |
| an important file that will do damage to the system, | | | | Now if you had another directory in home called |
| it will delete the file without one of those annoying | | | | music it would look like this: |
| popups asking if you are sure you want to delete it. | | | | /home/music |
| See the great power one weilds with the command | | | | Then let's say you are a jazz fan. Maybe you have a |
| line? Yet with this awesome power we must | | | | jazz directory inside the music directory like this: |
| exercise caution lest we destroy our system! The | | | | /home/music/jazz |
| command line is like a sharp katana sword, ready to | | | | You could have a bunch of directories in music: |
| slice through any problem you might have. Your brain | | | | /home/music/jazz |
| is your only limitation. | | | | /home/music/rock |
| Back to the daunting shell prompt... The first thing to | | | | /home/music/disco |
| do is discover exactly where we are in the file | | | | Now type this:cd |
| system. Type the following command:pwd | | | | Then click enter. Now type this:pwdand click enter. |
| Now click enter and you the output should be | | | | You should be in your home directory. Remember |
| something like this: /home/joejoe. So we know we | | | | your home folder is where all of your files reside. It is |
| are currently in the directory called joejoe which | | | | usually the same name as your username. So if your |
| resides in the home directory. Your output will be | | | | username is barney22, then your home directory is |
| different. My username is joejoe, so I usually start | | | | probably /home/barney22. |
| out in /home/joejoe. | | | | If you type cd then enter, it will always take you |
| Directories are like folders. Folders can be placed into | | | | right home. Just like clicking your heels three times. |
| other folders. So can directories. Each slash "/" means | | | | |