Command Terminals and VScode: A Beginner's Guide

Annyeong👋🏾!

If you're new to coding, you may have heard about command terminals and are probably wondering what they are and why you need them. In this post, we'll explore the command terminal and how it works on different operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux.

So, what is a command terminal? It's basically a way to interact with your computer through text commands. Instead of using a graphical user interface (GUI), you can enter commands and get things done faster.

Windows OS

Let's start with Windows. The command terminal in Windows is called Command Prompt. You can open it by pressing the Windows key + R and typing "cmd" in the Run dialog box. This will open up the Command Prompt window. Here, you can type in various commands to perform tasks like copying files, renaming files, and more. Check out Microsoft's Command Prompt reference for an exhaustive list of command prompts you can explore for various actions. Some examples are below 👇

Command	Description
dir	Lists the contents of a directory.
cd	Changes the current directory.
cls	Clears the screen.
ipconfig	Displays the IP configuration of a network connection.
ping	Tests network connectivity to a specific IP address or domain name.
tasklist	Displays a list of currently running processes.
netstat	Shows active network connections and their status.
mkdir	Creates a new directory.
rmdir	Removes a directory.
copy	Copies files from one location to another.
del	Deletes files.
move	Moves files from one location to another.
type	Displays the contents of a text file.
echo	Prints a message to the terminal or writes it to a file.

Mac OS

Mac users have Terminal, which is similar to Command Prompt in Windows. You can find it in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder. Once you open Terminal, you can start entering commands to do things like managing files and folders, launching apps, and more. Apple's Terminal User Guide, provides explanatory information on how to execute different commands depending on your mac version. Some examples are below 👇

Command	Description
ls	Lists the contents of a directory.
cd	Changes the current directory.
clear	Clears the screen.
ifconfig	Displays the IP configuration of a network connection.
ping	Tests network connectivity to a specific IP address or domain name.
ps	Displays a list of currently running processes.
top	Shows system processes and their resource usage.
mkdir	Creates a new directory.
rmdir	Removes a directory.
cp	Copies files from one location to another.
rm	Deletes files.
mv	Moves files from one location to another.
cat	Displays the contents of a text file.
echo	Prints a message to the terminal or writes it to a file.

Linux OS

Linux users have access to the terminal as well. In Linux, there are different terminal emulators available, but the most common one is called Bash. You can access it by opening the Terminal application or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard. Like in Windows and Mac, you can use various commands to accomplish different tasks. Use this link for Linux Commands Cheat Sheet. Some examples are below 👇

Command	Description
cat > filename	Creates a new file
cat filename	Displays the file content
cat file1 file2 > file3	Joins two files (file1, file2) and stores the output in a new file (file3)
mv file "new file path"	Moves the files to the new location
mv filename new_file_name	Renames the file to a new filename
sudo	Allows regular users to run programs with the security privileges of the superuser or root
rm filename	Deletes a file
man	Gives help information on a command
history	Gives a list of all past commands typed in the current terminal session

A little bonus on VScode

Now that you know a little more about command terminals, let's talk about VScode. VScode is a free and open-source code editor that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's packed with features that make coding a breeze, and it's especially great for beginners because it's easy to use.

To get started with VScode, simply download it from their website and install it on your computer. Once you've done that, you can open VScode and start coding. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, and there are plenty of extensions available that can enhance your coding experience. Explore Visual Studio Code Keyboard Shortcuts here.

Remember, command terminals and code editors are your trusty companions on your coding journey. They won't judge you if you make a mistake, and they won't give you a hard time if you forget a command. They're always there to help you get your code in shape. So, don't be afraid to flex those coding muscles and give your keyboard a workout.