WVU - Open Source University

In the Beginning…

In the beginning, there was no graphical interface. We had to type all of our commands while walking to school in the snow, uphill both ways. These days, we have pretty flashy interfaces that do everything for us. Still, someday the need will arise, and you will have to learn how to use the command line.

Don’t worry! It’s actually pretty easy, and the only truly efficient way to do certain things. You might even come prefer it (we have kool-aid).

There are a bunch of different command line interfaces out there, but you’ll probably only end up using the bash (bourne again shell). We’re just going to teach you the bare essentials, which are pretty consistant for all shell types.

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Don’t Be Afraid

Take a deep breath. I understand, you’re used to Windows. This is a brave new world for you. The good news? Linux is easier than ever to use. Forget what you’ve heard. Linux isn’t just for the hardcore. In fact, a few things are even easier to use in Linux than in other operating systems.

Just sit back and keep reading. We’ll explain a few of the key differences between operating systems and help ease your transition into the open-source world.

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