UNIX primer

A Summary of Basic UNIX Commands

In the following listing, the '$' represents the system prompt. The user types the text after the '$' then presses 'Enter' to have the computer carry out the command.

$ ls lists the files and folders in the working directory

$ ls -l lists the files and folders in the working directory, with additional information

$ cd a_dir changes the working directory to the directory adir in the present working directory

$ pwd returns the name of the working directory

$ cd .. changes the working directory to the directory one above it
$ pico a_file allows you to edit a_file, creating it if it does not already exist
$ exit a_file This will end your agora session. Other systems may use something else, such as 'bye' or 'logout'.

$ rm a_file removes a_file

$ mkdir new_dir creates a new directory new_dir in the working directory

$ rmdir old_dir removes the directory old_dir from the working directory

$ chmod 755 a_file sets permissions on a_file to allow you to read write and execute the file, and everyone else to read and execute it

$ ls	lists the files and folders in the working directory
$ ls -l	lists the files and folders in the working directory, with additional information
$ cd a_dir	changes the working directory to the directory adir in the present working directory
$ pwd	returns the name of the working directory
$ cd ..	changes the working directory to the directory one above it
$ pico a_file	allows you to edit a_file, creating it if it does not already exist
$ exit a_file	This will end your agora session. Other systems may use something else, such as 'bye' or 'logout'.
$ rm a_file	removes a_file
$ mkdir new_dir	creates a new directory new_dir in the working directory
$ rmdir old_dir	removes the directory old_dir from the working directory
$ chmod 755 a_file	sets permissions on a_file to allow you to read write and execute the file, and everyone else to read and execute it