University of Bristol ∙ Research Computing Training
Welcome to this introduction to the command line interface! These pages can be followed in your own time, but also guide our training workshops.
Understanding the command line is an important foundation for many computational skills. Learning to code, using high-performance computers, and research collaboration all rely on a knowledge of the command line. We welcome all levels of learners, and this course is designed for total beginners. We will build your confidence, explain the confusing computing vocabulary, and help you to understand what we are doing, step by step!
Info: the UNIX command line
This session covers the “UNIX-like” (sometimes “*nix”) command line. This is used by Linux, MacOS, most servers, as well as all HPC and computing clusters. Window’s default command line is run by “Powershell”, which we do not cover in this course. Windows can emulate a UNIX-like terminal, so please continue to learn more.
Session goals
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to
- understand the glossary relevant to the command line
- move around a file system
- create and modify files
- search within folders, and within files
- link commands together to do more advanced command line tasks