Basic Linux and DrScheme quick reference

Text in brackets < > is a parameter and is not meant to be typed literally.

1. Make sure you're using a Linux lab machine and not a Windows machine.

2. Logging out: use the start menu in the bottom left corner.

3. Directory browsing: Click the folder icon in the top left.

4. Terminal usage: Right click on the desktop gives you a menu. Choose terminal.

5. Running a program from the terminal: type <program name>&

   e.g. drscheme&

   & causes the preceding command to fork off the terminal; if you don't type it then the terminal will be monopolized by the program.

6. Changing your password:

   In the terminal type passwd and follow the directions.

7. Web browsing: run firefox&. The course site is http://www.cs.caltech.edu/courses/cs1

8. Submitting labs and homework: cs1man submit <file name>

9. To copy and paste: Selecting text copies it. Clicking the middle button pastes.

File and directory navigation and manipulation in the terminal (shell) language:

1. pwd outputs your current location

2. cd <dir> changes your location to the directory specified by <dir>.

   eg. cd / will move you to the root directory,

   and cd ~ will move you to your home directory.

3. A directory or file can be specified either absolutely or relatively:

   absolutely: specify the location from the root of the directory tree

   eg. /usr/bin/ is the directoy bin in usr located at the top level of the tree

   relatively: specify the location from your current location:

   ../ specifies one level up

   <name> specifies a directory or file at this level.

   eg. from /usr/bin use ../../lib to specify /lib

   and from / use lib to specify /lib.

4. mv <file or dir> <dir2> moves a file or a directory into directory dir2.

5. mv <file or dir> <dir2>/<name> if <dir2>/<name> doesn't already exist then <file or dir> gets renamed to <name> and moved to <dir2>.

   eg. to simply rename a file type mv <file> <new name>.

6. cp <file> <dir2> copies a file to dir2.

7. rm <file> removes a file.

8. mkdir <dir> makes a directory.

9. rmdir <dir> removes a directory.

10. rm -r <dir> recursively removes the directory and all subdirectory files and directories.

11. man <program> outputs the manual page for the program.

    eg. man cp will tell you how to copy files.