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("cmdexe"): : 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.