The everyday commands

Here are the commands you'll see constantly. Read them like sentences: a verb, sometimes followed by a target.

pwd                 # "print working directory" — where am I right now?
ls                  # list the files and folders here
ls -la              # list everything, including hidden files, with details
cd projects         # change directory — move into the "projects" folder
cd ..               # move up one folder (".." means "the folder above")
cd ~                # go back to your home folder
mkdir my-app        # make a new folder called "my-app"
cp notes.txt backup.txt   # copy a file (original stays, copy is made)
mv old.txt new.txt        # move or rename a file
rm draft.txt        # remove (delete) a file

A few notes that save real grief:

• cd is how you move around. Combined with pwd and ls, it's 80% of what you'll ever do. You move into the right folder, look around, then run something.
• Paths can be relative or absolute. cd projects is relative to where you are; cd /Users/mini/projects is the full address from the top.
• rm is permanent. There is no Recycle Bin or Trash on the command line. When you rm a file, it's gone — no "are you sure?", no undo. Be especially careful with rm -rf, which deletes a folder and everything inside it without asking. If you're ever unsure what a rm command will delete, don't run it. Ask the AI to explain it first.