Linux-Basics Commands & File Operations

Nivethithaa Saravanavel · 2025-10-07T14:38:18Z

What is Linux? Linux is an open-source operating system based on Unix, used to run computers, servers, and mobile devices. It’s known for its stability, security, and flexibility, and powers systems like Android, servers, and supercomputers. Installing Linux on Windows (WSL) to install Linux in windows using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux): This allows you to run Linux directly on Windows without a virtual machine. wsl --install Basic Linux Commands Command Description pwd Shows the present working directory uname -a Displays system information whoami Shows the current username clear or Ctrl + L Clears the terminal screen history Displays previously used commands mkdir directory_name Creates a new directory cd directory_name Changes to the specified directory Working with the vi and nano Editors File Editing Commands Command Description vi file_name.extension Create or open a file in vi editor nano file_name Open file in nano editor i Switch to insert mode in vi to add content Esc + :wq Save changes and exit vi Esc + :q! Exit vi without saving Listing and Managing Files Command Description ls List all files and directories sudo Execute commands as an admin apt-get install package_name Install software in Ubuntu Ctrl + Shift + C Copy text from terminal Ctrl + Shift + V Paste text into terminal touch file_name Create an empty file rm * Remove all files in the current directory rm *.txt Remove all .txt files in the directory cat file_name Display file content cp old_file new_file Copy a file mv old_name new_name Rename or move a file cat >> file_name Append content to a file echo "text" >> file_name Directly append text to a file from terminal history >> history.txt Save command history to a file

#linux #architecture #learning #software

What is Linux?

Linux is an open-source operating system based on Unix, used to run computers, servers, and mobile devices.
It’s known for its stability, security, and flexibility, and powers systems like Android, servers, and supercomputers.

Installing Linux on Windows (WSL)

to install Linux in windows using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux):
This allows you to run Linux directly on Windows without a virtual machine.

wsl --install

Basic Linux Commands

Command	Description
`pwd`	Shows the present working directory
`uname -a`	Displays system information
`whoami`	Shows the current username
`clear` or `Ctrl + L`	Clears the terminal screen
`history`	Displays previously used commands
`mkdir directory_name`	Creates a new directory
`cd directory_name`	Changes to the specified directory

Working with the vi and nano Editors

File Editing Commands

Command	Description
`vi file_name.extension`	Create or open a file in vi editor
`nano file_name`	Open file in nano editor
`i`	Switch to insert mode in vi to add content
`Esc + :wq`	Save changes and exit vi
`Esc + :q!`	Exit vi without saving

Listing and Managing Files

Command	Description
`ls`	List all files and directories
`sudo`	Execute commands as an admin
`apt-get install package_name`	Install software in Ubuntu
`Ctrl + Shift + C`	Copy text from terminal
`Ctrl + Shift + V`	Paste text into terminal
`touch file_name`	Create an empty file
`rm *`	Remove all files in the current directory
`rm *.txt`	Remove all `.txt` files in the directory
`cat file_name`	Display file content
`cp old_file new_file`	Copy a file
`mv old_name new_name`	Rename or move a file
`cat >> file_name`	Append content to a file
`echo "text" >> file_name`	Directly append text to a file from terminal
`history >> history.txt`	Save command history to a file

Top comments (1)

Md Mahbubur Rahman • Oct 8

Awesome start, Nivethithaa! Your Day 1 Linux guide makes learning the basics—like pwd, mkdir, ls, and editors like vi and nano—so approachable. Excited to follow along as you dive deeper into Linux!