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OLUWADAMILOLA FASHINA
OLUWADAMILOLA FASHINA

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TERMINAL MASTERY: Master Linux File Commands in 10 Minutes Flat!

#cloudwhistler #linux #cli #terminal

Give me 10 minutes, and I'll transform you from terminal newbie to command line wizard. Just pure Linux power! Skip the GUI, embrace the terminal, then watch your efficiency and productivity soar.

What to expect

Introduction

Before you launch Kubernetes clusters or build CI/CD pipelines, you NEED these fundamental skills. File operations are the building blocks of DevOps greatness. This isn't optional, it's the secret weapon that separates pros from pretenders.

Think your GUI is faster? Think again. Terminal masters accomplish in seconds what takes GUI users minutes.

Directory Domination: Create Directories like a pro

# mkdir is used to create directory (folder).

  • Single Directory Creation: 
# mkdir /project_team
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file commands

Just like that, directory created.

  • Multi-Directory Magic: 
# mkdir /admin /technology /operands
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multi-directory

Three directories, one command. Efficiency unleashed!

  • Pattern Creation: 
 # mkdir /project{1..5}
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Imultidirectory

BOOM! You just generated project1 through project5 instantly.

  • Nested Directory Superpowers: Creating a directory inside a directory (parent/permissive) 
# mkdir -p deployment/kubernetes/services/config
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Nested

The -p flag is your recursive superpower. Entire directory trees spawned with a single command.

Tip: Use meaningful directory names. Future-you will thank present-you.

File Creation Mastery

  • Create empty Files in an instant with # touch 
# touch /server
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server

Empty file, ready for action.

  • Multiple File Creation 
# touch /input /output /screen
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touch

Three files, one command. Well-done!

  • Sequential Pattern Creation 
# touch /log{1..10}.txt
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log

Just created 10 log files in less time than it takes to click "New" in a GUI.

The Cat Command: Create, Write, Read in one tool

This command allows to create, read & add Content but not edit.

  • Create & Write Content with # cat > 
# cat > deployment.txt
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create and write

(Press Ctrl+d twice to save)

  • Add More Content (Append Mode) 
# cat >> /deployment.txt
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append

(Press Ctrl+d twice to save)

  • Read File Contents 
# cat < /deployment.txt
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read

View your creation in all its glory.

Copy Files with Surgical Precision

Understanding the flags (options):
-r: recursive (for directories)
-v: verbose (shows what's being copied)
-f: force (overwrite without asking)

  • Basic File Copy # cp <option> <source path> <destination path> 
# cp -v /log1.txt /cloud
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cp

Copy with -v (verbose) to see exactly what's happening.

  • Copy Entire Directories 
# cp -rv /project /sbin
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s

The -r flag recursively copies everything within the directory.

  • Pattern-Based Copy 
# cp -rvf *.txt /etc
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pattern

Copy all text files in one swift command.

  • Sequential Copy Operations 
cp -rvf log{1..5}.txt /var
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sequence

Copy multiple numbered files with a single command.

Delete with Confidence (and Caution!!!)

Delete with # rm

  • Single File Removal 
# rm -rvf /deployment.txt
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single

  • Multiple File Deletion in a Sequence 
# rm -rvf /log{1..5}.txt
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sequence

  • Directory Deletion 
# rm -rvf /project_team
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rm directory

  • Pattern-Based Cleanup 
# rm -rvf /log*
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Pattern

  • DANGER ZONE: Handle with extreme care

rm -rvf /* - DELETES EVERYTHING IN CURRENT DIRECTORY

NEVER run this without absolute certainty of your current directory!

Move & Rename: The Versatile MV Command

  • Rename a File 
mv /log1.txt /pro1.txt
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move

Simple. Powerful. Done.

Practical Challenge: Build a simple project from scratch

Let's put it all together with a simple real-world project structure:

  • Create the project structure

project structure

  • Create configuration file

Config

  • Add Content to Linux file (Do not forget Ctrl+d twice)

Content

  • Create deployment script

deploy

  • Make script executable

executable

  • Copy Configurations to a backup location

backup

  • List your project Structure

find

Congratulations: You're now a Terminal Master!

If you've made it this far, you're no longer a CLI novice. You've mastered the most essential Linux file operations that DevOps Engineers, System Administrators, and Cloud Architects use daily.

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Drop a like if this helped you level up your terminal game!

#30DaysLinuxChallenge #CloudWhistler #RedHat #CloudJourney #DevOps #Linux #OpenSource #CloudComputing #WomenInTech #RedHatEnterpriseLinux #ITInfrastructure #Terminal #Filecommands #CLI #TerminalMastery #SysAdmin #Automation #CloudEngineer #CloudArchitect

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