Learning to Use Computer's Terminal

The terminal, also known as the command line or console, is a powerful tool that allows you to interact with your computer using text commands. It provides greater control and efficiency for various tasks such as file management, running programs, and automating workflows.

This entry covers how to access and use the terminal on both macOS and Windows, focusing on basic commands that are common between the two operating systems.

Why Use the Terminal?

1. Efficiency: Perform tasks faster than using graphical interfaces.
2. Automation: Automate repetitive tasks with scripts.
3. Development: Essential for programming and development workflows, for examle, for installing and managing packages.

Accessing the Terminal

macOS

On macOS, the terminal is called Terminal.app and provides a Unix-like command-line environment.

To open the terminal:

1. Use Spotlight Search.
2. Press Command (⌘) + Space to open Spotlight.
3. Type Terminal and press Enter.

Windows

Windows offers several command-line interfaces:

• Command Prompt(cmd): The traditional Windows command-line interface.
• PowerShell: An advanced shell with scripting capabilities.
• Windows Terminal: A modern application that can host multiple shells, including Command Prompt and PowerShell.

Difference Between Command Prompt and PowerShell

While both Command Prompt and PowerShell are command-line interfaces available on Windows, they have key differences:

• Command Prompt (cmd): This is the traditional Windows command-line interface, dating back to the MS-DOS era. It supports a basic set of commands and is suitable for simple tasks like file manipulation and running older scripts.
• PowerShell: Introduced by Microsoft as a more advanced shell. It offers powerful scripting capabilities, uses cmdlets and provides enhanced functionality for system administration, automation, and configuration management.

Which One Should You Use?

For most modern programming, data analysis, and automation tasks, PowerShell is the recommended choice due to its advanced features and compatibility with contemporary tools. PowerShell supports many of the same commands as Command Prompt (with some syntax differences) and offers a richer set of functionalities.

However, if you’re working with legacy systems or scripts that were specifically designed for Command Prompt, you might need to use cmd to ensure compatibility.