Essential Linux command line basics for developers - Rocketeers app [ Rocketeers ](/) [Login](https://rocketeersapp.com/login) On this page Knowledge --------- Essential Linux command line basics for developers ================================================== ### [\#CommandLine](https://rocketeersapp.com/knowledge/command-line) A practical primer on Linux command line basics: navigating, working with files, pipes and redirection, permissions, and where to go next. Published by [Mark van Eijk](https://rocketeersapp.com/author/mark-van-eijk) on June 23, 2026 · 2 minute read 1. [Why the command line is worth it](#content-why-the-command-line-is-worth-it) 2. [Knowing where you are and moving around](#content-knowing-where-you-are-and-moving-around) 3. [Working with files and directories](#content-working-with-files-and-directories) 4. [Pipes and redirection](#content-pipes-and-redirection) 5. [A quick word on permissions](#content-a-quick-word-on-permissions) 6. [Where to go next](#content-where-to-go-next) [\#](#content-why-the-command-line-is-worth-it "Permalink")Why the command line is worth it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you write code or touch a server, the terminal is unavoidable, and honestly that's a good thing. It's faster than clicking, it's scriptable, and it's the same on your laptop and on a remote box. This is the set of commands I'd hand a new developer to get comfortable. Everything here works on Ubuntu and macOS alike. [\#](#content-knowing-where-you-are-and-moving-around "Permalink")Knowing where you are and moving around --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The terminal always has a "current directory". Three commands cover navigation: ``` pwd # print working directory: where am I right now? ls # list files in the current directory cd /var/www # change directory ``` `ls` becomes much more useful with flags: ``` ls -l # long format: permissions, owner, size, date ls -la # also show hidden files (the ones starting with a dot) ls -lh # human-readable sizes (KB, MB instead of bytes) ``` A few `cd` shortcuts save constant typing: `cd ~` goes home, `cd ..` goes up one level, and `cd -` jumps back to the previous directory. [\#](#content-working-with-files-and-directories "Permalink")Working with files and directories ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The everyday file commands: ``` mkdir project # make a directory touch project/app.js # create an empty file (or update its timestamp) cp app.js app.bak.js # copy a file mv app.bak.js backup/ # move or rename a file rm app.bak.js # remove a file ``` Be careful with `rm`. There is no recycle bin. To delete a directory and everything in it you need `rm -r directory`, and that's exactly the command people regret. Double-check the path before you hit Enter. To read files without opening an editor: ``` cat app.js # dump the whole file to the screen less app.js # scroll through a long file (q to quit) head -n 20 app.js # first 20 lines tail -n 20 app.js # last 20 lines tail -f app.log # follow a log file live ``` [\#](#content-pipes-and-redirection "Permalink")Pipes and redirection --------------------------------------------------------------------- This is where the command line gets powerful. The pipe `|` sends one command's output into another command's input: ``` ls -l | less # page through a long listing cat app.log | grep ERROR # show only lines containing ERROR ``` Redirection sends output to a file instead of the screen: ``` echo "hello" > notes.txt # write to a file (OVERWRITES it) echo "more" >> notes.txt # append to a file (keeps existing content) ``` The difference between `>` and `>>` matters: a single `>` wipes the file first. Get them mixed up and you'll lose the contents of a file you meant to add to. [\#](#content-a-quick-word-on-permissions "Permalink")A quick word on permissions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Run `ls -l` and you'll see strings like `-rwxr-xr--` at the start of each line. Those are permissions: read (`r`), write (`w`), and execute (`x`), shown for the owner, the group, and everyone else. When a script "won't run" or you get a "permission denied", this is usually why. The full story, including `chmod` and the numbers like `755`, is in the [change file permissions with chmod guide](/change-file-permissions-chmod-linux). [\#](#content-where-to-go-next "Permalink")Where to go next ----------------------------------------------------------- These basics get you around, but the real productivity comes from a handful of focused tools: - Finding files by name or type: [find files on the Linux command line](/find-files-linux-command). - Searching inside files for text: [search files with grep](/search-files-grep-command). - Bundling and compressing directories: [create and extract tar archives](/create-extract-tar-archives-linux). - Working on a remote machine: [connect to a server with SSH](/connect-to-server-ssh-command). Pick one command, use it for real on something you're actually doing, and it sticks. That beats memorizing a cheat sheet every time. ### Subscribe to our newsletter Do you want to receive regular updates with fresh and exclusive content to learn more about web development, hosting, security and performance? Subscribe now! 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