How to Use the Command Line on Windows and Mac?

The command line, terminal, or shell is a textual user interface to issue commands to a computer's operating system. You may issue commands, launch applications, handle files, and conduct other activities without using graphical user interfaces by just entering in the necessary information.

A command line is a powerful tool that, if used properly, can significantly boost your productivity and efficiency, but it may also appear frightening at first. It is especially helpful for automated operations and more experienced computer users seeking a more intuitive interface.

This tutorial will teach you the fundamentals of working with the command line, whether you're using Windows or Mac.

Getting Started

Search for "Command Prompt" in Windows's Start menu to bring up the operating system's command line interface. Select "Run as administrator" from the context menu after right-clicking "Command Prompt." Launch "Terminal" from the "Utilities" folder inside the "Applications" folder on a Mac.

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You can use standard commands for moving about and managing files once you've brought up the command line interface. There are a few typical orders that are given:

• For a new location, use the Cd command (e.g. cd Documents will change the current directory to the "Documents" folder).
• Use Ls (Mac) or dir (Windows): It will list all the files and folders in the current folder.
• For making new directories, use the mkdir command (e.g. mkdir test will create a new directory called "test").
• A new, blank file will be created when you touch the screen (e.g. touch test.txt will create a new file called "test.txt").
• Deletes a file or directory using the rm command (e.g. rm test.txt will remove the file "test.txt").

Be wary when executing commands, especially those that destroy files or directories, because the command line does not have an in-built "undo" capability.

Microsoft Windows standard command line interface is the Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe). We've compiled some frequently used commands and hints to help you get started with the Windows Command Prompt.

Window Common Line

Microsoft Windows' standard command line interface is the Windows Command Prompt (aka cmd.exe). To help you get started with the Windows Command Prompt, we've compiled some frequently used commands and hints.

Common Commands:

• Cls: Clear the screen.

• ping: Test the connectivity to a network address (e.g. ping google.com will send a test request to Google's servers).

• ipconfig: Display the IP configuration of the local computer.

• netstat: Display active network connections and their status.

Tips:

• Use the arrow keys to cycle through the commands you've already typed.
• In the Command Prompt, you may pick the text you wish to copy by right-clicking and choosing "Mark." When you right-click again, the text will be pasted.
• Simply typing in the file's name (such as example.bat) and hitting Enter will launch the associated application or script.
• The start command can launch an application or file into a new window (e.g. start notepad.exe will open Notepad).

To become more proficient with the command line interface, it is essential to continue studying and practising the commands accessible in the Windows Command Prompt.

Mac Terminal

Macs often use the Mac Terminal, or bash, as their command line interface. Here are some often used Terminal commands and suggestions for the Mac:

Common Commands:

• clear: Clear the screen.

• ping: Test the connectivity to a network address (e.g. ping google.com will send a test request to Google's servers).

• ifconfig: Display the IP configuration of the local computer.

• netstat: Display active network connections and their status.

Tips:

• To quickly access previously typed commands, use the up and down arrow keys.
• In the Terminal, press Cmd + C to copy and Cmd + V to paste.
• The name of a programme or script file (such as./example.sh) followed by Enter will launch the programme or script.
• The open command may launch an application or file in a new window. TextEdit is the default editor for this programme.

It is advisable to keep studying the Mac Terminal's command set to become proficient with the command line interface.

Advance Commands

As you become more comfortable with the command line, you can start using more advanced commands to automate tasks and perform complex operations. Here are some examples:

• grep: Search for a pattern in a file (e.g. grep "error" log.txt will search for the word "error" in the file "log.txt").

• sed: Replace a pattern in a file (e.g. sed 's/old/new/g' file.txt will replace all occurrences of the word "old" with the word "new" in the file "file.txt").

• curl: Transfer data from or to a server (e.g. curl http://example.com will retrieve the contents of the website "example.com").

• tar: Create or extract compressed archive files (e.g. tar -czvf archive.tar.gz folder will create a compressed archive "archive.tar.gz" from the contents of the "folder" directory).

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It is important to keep studying and exploring the command line to discover what additional chores may be automated or performed more effectively using one of the many other sophisticated commands available.

Conclusion:

While the command line interface may appear daunting initially, it quickly becomes an invaluable resource for automating routine chores and carrying out advanced tasks. Whether you're using Windows Command Prompt or Mac OS X's Terminal, you have access to a rich set of commands.

The command line includes options for users of different skill levels, from simple tasks like wiping the screen and verifying network connectivity to complex tasks like finding and changing file patterns.

To become more efficient and skilled while using the command line, you should keep studying and practising the commands accessible in your operating system's command line interface. You'll find yourself utilising the command line frequently after getting the hang of it.