Absolute BEGINNER Guide to the Mac OS Terminal

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to help absolute beginners get comfortable with the Mac OS Terminal. By following these steps, you'll learn how to navigate files and directories, create and edit files, and utilize essential commands in the Terminal. This knowledge is crucial for anyone looking to enhance their efficiency in using the Mac operating system.

Step 1: Locate the Terminal App

To start using the Terminal, you need to find it on your Mac:

• Open Finder.
• Navigate to Applications > Utilities.
• Double-click on Terminal to launch it.

Step 2: Understand the Terminal Prompt

When you open the Terminal, you’ll see a prompt that includes a dollar sign ($). This signifies that the Terminal is ready to accept commands.

Step 3: Show Files and Folders

To see the files and folders in your current directory:

• Type the command ls and press Enter.
• This will list all files and directories in your current working directory.

Step 4: Change Directories

To navigate to different directories:

• Use the command cd followed by the directory name.
  • For example, cd Documents to enter the Documents folder.
• To go back one directory, use cd ...

Step 5: Clear the Terminal Screen

To clear the Terminal screen for better visibility:

• Type clear and hit Enter. This removes previous commands from view.

Step 6: Understand Special Symbols

• The . symbol refers to the current directory.
• The .. symbol refers to the parent directory.
• The ~ symbol represents your home directory.

Step 7: Create a File

To create a new file in the Terminal:

• Use the command touch filename.txt (replace filename.txt with your desired file name).
• This command creates an empty text file.

Step 8: Autocomplete File Names

To speed up your work, you can use autocomplete:

• Start typing the file name and press Tab. If there’s only one match, it will complete the name for you.

Step 9: Edit Text Files

To edit files directly in the Terminal:

• Use the command nano filename.txt to open the file in the Nano text editor.
• Make your changes and save by pressing Ctrl + O, then exit with Ctrl + X.

Step 10: Scroll Through Previous Commands

To see your command history:

• Type history and press Enter.
• You can navigate through previous commands using the up and down arrow keys.

Step 11: Delete Files

To remove a file:

• Use the command rm filename.txt (replace filename.txt with the file you want to delete).
• Be cautious, as this action is irreversible.

Step 12: Create Folders

To create a new directory:

• Type mkdir foldername (replace foldername with your desired name).
• This creates a new folder in the current directory.

Step 13: Delete Folders

To delete a directory and its contents:

• Use the command rm -r foldername (replace foldername with the name of the directory).
• Ensure that the directory is empty or be ready to delete all its contents.

Conclusion

After following these steps, you should have a solid understanding of the basic commands and functionalities of the Mac OS Terminal. Practice navigating, creating, and editing files regularly to enhance your skills. As you become more comfortable, explore advanced commands and functionalities to further boost your productivity.