Well now it's time to put on your big kid pants and learn the command line
Isn't the command line for old guys and people that fear change?
Nope. The command line is where the real power, control, and yes speed of any Unix like OS lies, and even many non Unix base OS's have a lot waiting for you on the command line.
Think of it this way, why do you still text your friends when you can video chat?? Are you backwards and stupid? Of course not. Every medium has it's uses and advantages. For example, in the time it takes to fire up your Hangouts, Skype, Facetime
It's the same with the command line. By the time you get the file manager open, browse for all the files you just downloaded, CTRL-click them all, CUT, go to the folder you want them in, PASTE, and wait for the move to happen, you could have done it already from the command line.
So yes, sometimes the command line is faster and or easier. Other times it's just plain the only way to get at certain powerful features or configuration settings.
Anyway, the point is that you should get to know the command line and learn to use it. Don't think of it as an archaic hassle, think of it as being in an elite club of people that knows how to get things done. The kind that in the real world, know the right people, and the right places to get things done without waiting in lines and dealing with red tape.
Personally, I always leave a KDE Konsole window open on my desktop, and in it I have multiple command line tabs always open. One su to root so I can do admin tasks quickly, and one as my regular user, sitting in each of the directories I frequently work in. Eg. my Downloads, my Documents, one to ssh into my server, one to rsync files between network locations, etc.
#Linux #Sysadmin
https://www.maketecheasier.com/online-resources-for-learning-the-command-line/
Learning the command line also means you can provision servers with smaller footprints. The servers don't use as many resources and by reducing the footprint you also reduce the number of vulnerabilities by not installing a GUI.
ReplyDeleteLearning the command line is probably the last thing I'd suggest to recent converts. Maybe after they master the GUI of their choice.
ReplyDeleteJoe Blow And you don't feel a little smug hiding behind your fake name?
ReplyDeleteGet a technical distro. Hate to break it to folks but Ubuntu isn't it. Don't get me wrong, its good for learning basic stuff, but if you really want to learn Linux, try Slackware or LFS.
ReplyDeleteThe first commands you should learn are the commands to search and the commands to discover other commands:
ReplyDelete(in no particular order)
ls
man
grep
find
less/more
xargs
Eric Barlow Well, you're correct, but for a Linux sysadmin provisioning servers, having professional grade command line skills is not an optional skill-set.
ReplyDeleteMy point though was that the command line has benefits for casual Linux users as well.
Stephen Glasskeys I disagree. I am a SW engineer and I compile for a living. I don't need/want to compile everything I use in my OS. I have the ability to when it needs to be done, but a nice package management system like apt or yum is indispensable for people who are more interested in working with their OS than on it.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that if you really want to learn everything there is about Linux, get slackware. However, I'd only do that if it was my job :)
David Mann Different strokes brother. All good.
ReplyDeleteStephen Glasskeys Agreed. It's not for me, but I would love to have the time to do it.
ReplyDeleteDavid Mann
ReplyDeleteNot using a dumbed down distribution like Ubuntu hardly means having to compile everything, that's just a false equivalence. There are many distributions that are every bit as easy to use, and GUI'fied as Ubuntu, but without treating the user like a moron. If you want to be treated like you're stupid and need to be told what to do you might as well use MacOS.
Meanwhile, with Linux you can eat your cake and have it too.
You've also incorrectly linked using the command line with the idea that your Linux choice is somehow incomplete or incapable.
That's just plain wrong. Even Ubuntu and MacOS users can benefit from learning the command line, and should do so.
do LFS if you want to learn it
ReplyDeleteStephen Glasskeys probably the worst advice you could give someone starting out is to tell them to roll their own Linux distro. Maybe after they've gone through a basic command line course like this one, not before.
ReplyDeleteCthulu Bot depends, I know plenty of capable IT guys and "offshore programmers " who either don't talk about Linux or have honestly been shielded from it that could start on LFS with the great docs that exist.
ReplyDeleteIf they just want money, just say it...
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hodel this is my last reply to this thread. Extensive documentation does not = great. Let's just leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteCthulu Bot who said anything about great, I'm talking about technical capability... Great is a word left for other languages....
ReplyDeleteTrust me, there's a lot of people stuck in non-extensive-documentation world...
Christopher Gaul I don't think I said using a command line is something that people shouldn't have to do. I spend more than half my time at the command line on my xubuntu box since it absolutely is more powerful than any GUI tool in most instances. I always recommend people learn the command line when starting off on Linux or OS X. In fact, I am still trying to get my wife to do it on her hackintosh... searching the filesystem using Finder is an exercise in futility.
ReplyDeleteIMO the worst part, and dumbed down part, about Ubuntu is Unity and Gnome 3.x. But thankfully that too is a choice!