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edX Boot Camps

The command line is a versatile, text-based interface; IT and cybersecurity specialists can accomplish a multitude of tasks on their machines by giving computer lines text-based commands. This introductory course from edX will illustrate common commands that IT and cyber professionals use to search and find important files within the computer operating system known as Linux. In this free intro course, you will learn:

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The command line is a versatile, text-based interface; IT and cybersecurity specialists can accomplish a multitude of tasks on their machines by giving computer lines text-based commands. This introductory course from edX will illustrate common commands that IT and cyber professionals use to search and find important files within the computer operating system known as Linux. In this free intro course, you will learn:

  • The command-line interface and the terminal
  • The differences between a GUI and a terminal
  • Advantages of the terminal
  • File system navigation commands
  • Directories, files, and data points
  • The “find” command
  • The “grep” command
  • By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • Use Linux terminal commands.
  • Navigate and find important files, directories, and data points.
  • Communicate how cybersecurity professionals use basic commands to complete a security investigation.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to navigate the command-line interface.
  • How to use terminal commands.
  • How to find important files, directories, and data points.
  • How to use basic security commands.
  • How to apply this skill to your career.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines cybersecurity fundamentals by teaching foundational commands
Well-suited for IT professionals looking to develop their command-line skills
Offers hands-on exercises to reinforce learning
Taught by experienced instructors in cybersecurity
Possibly requires prior experience with command-line tools

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Reviews summary

Foundational linux command line primer

According to students, this course is a highly effective introduction to the Linux command line, especially for absolute beginners or those needing a quick refresher. Learners frequently praise its well-structured content, clear explanations, and the immediate understanding gained from practical hands-on exercises and helpful labs. While it provides a solid foundational understanding of navigation, file management, and core commands like `find` and `grep`, some students with prior experience note that it can feel too introductory, suggesting a desire for more in-depth coverage or advanced use cases. Overall, it's considered an excellent starting point for IT and cybersecurity careers.
Instructor explains complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.
"The instructor explained concepts clearly."
"The explanations are basic but sufficient for getting started."
"The instructor breaks down complex concepts into digestible pieces."
Serves as an effective starting point for further learning.
"It's a great starting point for anyone looking to get into IT or cybersecurity."
"Overall, a useful short course for foundational knowledge."
"Solid introductory course. It covers the core commands needed for basic navigation and file manipulation."
"Still, a good foundation for more advanced learning."
Practical exercises and labs greatly enhance understanding.
"I particularly appreciated the hands-on exercises which really helped solidify my understanding."
"The 'Try It' aspect with the labs was super helpful."
"The demonstrations were clear and the exercises were practical."
"The hands-on labs were fantastic and made learning so much easier. Perfect for starting your journey with Linux commands."
Provides an accessible and clear entry point into Linux.
"This course is a solid introduction to the Linux command line. The content is well-structured and easy to follow for beginners."
"Good course for absolute beginners. It covers the basics effectively like navigation and file management."
"Fantastic course for absolute beginners! I had no prior experience with Linux or command lines, and this course made it very accessible."
"It's a very basic course. Good for someone who has never seen a terminal before."
May be too basic for experienced users or those seeking advanced topics.
"I felt it could have gone a bit deeper into some topics, especially on the 'grep' and 'find' commands."
"As someone with a bit of prior exposure to command lines, I was hoping for more challenging content or more advanced use cases."
"I wish there was a bit more on advanced scripting or more complex file permissions, but I suppose that's beyond an 'intro' course."
"For me, it was too introductory and didn't offer new insights. I'd recommend it only to complete novices."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Try It: Learn Linux Command Line with these activities:
Review Command-Line Basics
Begin by reviewing the fundamentals of the command-line interface to strengthen your foundation.
Browse courses on Command-line
Show steps
  • Review the Command-Line Interface (CLI)
  • Identify the Differences Between a GUI and a Terminal
Join a Study Group for Collaborative Learning
Connect with peers to discuss course concepts, exchange ideas, and reinforce your understanding.
Browse courses on Peer Support
Show steps
  • Find a Study Group or Create Your Own
  • Establish Regular Meeting Times
Develop a Cheat Sheet of Essential Commands
Create a personalized cheat sheet that summarizes the key commands you've learned.
Browse courses on Knowledge Base
Show steps
  • Identify and List Essential Commands
  • Organize Commands by Category or Purpose
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice File Navigation Commands
Reinforce your understanding of file system navigation by practicing common commands.
Browse courses on File Navigation
Show steps
  • Use the 'cd' Command to Change Directories
  • Use the 'ls' Command to List Files and Directories
  • Use the 'pwd' Command to Print the Working Directory
Explore the 'find' and 'grep' Commands
Enhance your search capabilities by exploring the advanced 'find' and 'grep' commands.
Browse courses on Find Command
Show steps
  • Use the 'find' Command to Search for Files and Directories
  • Use the 'grep' Command to Search for Text Patterns
Attend a Linux Command-Line Workshop
Participate in a workshop led by experts to deepen your practical skills and knowledge.
Show steps
  • Research and Find a Suitable Workshop
  • Register and Attend the Workshop
Build a Command-Line Script for Automating Tasks
Apply your skills to build a real-world project that automates tasks using command-line scripts.
Browse courses on Project-Based Learning
Show steps
  • Identify a Task to Automate
  • Write a Command-Line Script

Career center

Learners who complete Try It: Learn Linux Command Line will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
IT Security Analyst
Cybersecurity professionals use commands like the ones taught in the course to search and find important files within the computer operating system known as Linux. By the end of the course, you will learn the basics of navigating and finding important files, directories, and data points on your own computer, and you will be able to use this skill to communicate how cybersecurity professionals use basic commands to complete a security investigation.
Cybersecurity Analyst
This course will illustrate common commands that IT and cyber professionals use to search and find important files within the computer operating system known as Linux. By the end of the course, you will learn the basics of navigating and finding important files, directories, and data points on your own computer, and you will be able to use this skill to communicate how cybersecurity professionals use basic commands to complete a security investigation.
Network Administrator
The command line is a versatile, text-based interface; IT and cybersecurity specialists can accomplish a multitude of tasks on their machines by giving computer lines text-based commands. This introductory course from edX will illustrate common commands that IT and cyber professionals use to search and find important files within the computer operating system known as Linux. By the end of the course, you will be able to use Linux terminal commands to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points.
Software Engineer
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are highly useful skills for a software engineer, who must use Linux often.
Data Analyst
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a data analyst, who must often work with data stored on Linux systems.
Web Developer
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a web developer, who must often work with Linux systems.
DevOps Engineer
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a DevOps engineer, who must often work with Linux systems.
IT Manager
The course covers the basics of navigating and finding important files, directories, and data points on a Linux system. This is a useful skill for an IT manager, who must often work with Linux systems.
Database Administrator
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a database administrator, who must often work with Linux systems.
Security Engineer
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are skills that can be useful for a security engineer, who must often work with Linux systems.
Cloud Architect
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a cloud architect, who must often work with Linux systems.
Data Scientist
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a data scientist, who must often work with data stored on Linux systems.
Machine Learning Engineer
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a machine learning engineer, who must often work with data stored on Linux systems.
Systems Administrator
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a systems administrator, who must often work with Linux systems.
Technical Support Specialist
The course will teach the basics of using Linux terminal commands and how to navigate and find important files, directories, and data points. These are useful skills for a technical support specialist, who must often work with Linux systems.

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Try It: Learn Linux Command Line.
Comprehensive guide to UNIX and Linux system administration. It covers a wide range of topics, including file systems, networking, security, and performance tuning. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Linux system administration.
Comprehensive guide to the Linux command line. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic commands, file management, networking, and security. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the Linux command line.
Comprehensive guide to advanced Bash scripting. It covers a wide range of topics, including variables, functions, loops, and arrays. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Bash scripting.
Concise and comprehensive guide to Linux. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic commands, file management, networking, and security. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Linux.
Classic guide to Unix programming. It covers a wide range of topics, including the Unix philosophy, system calls, and network programming. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Unix programming.
Comprehensive guide to sed and awk. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic commands, regular expressions, and scripting. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about sed and awk.
Concise and comprehensive guide to grep. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic commands, regular expressions, and performance tuning. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about grep.
Comprehensive guide to building a Linux system from scratch. It covers a wide range of topics, including kernel compilation, package management, and system configuration. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the Linux system.
Concise and comprehensive guide to the Linux kernel. It covers a wide range of topics, including kernel architecture, device drivers, and process management. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the Linux kernel.
Comprehensive guide to modern operating systems. It covers a wide range of topics, including operating system design, process management, and memory management. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about operating systems.
Comprehensive guide to operating system concepts. It covers a wide range of topics, including operating system design, process management, and memory management. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about operating systems.

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