If you have ever used DOS, you are familiar with command prompts. However, Windows users may have never used command prompts before. When switching to Linux, these users tend to shy away from the command prompt and miss out on the power of the command.
Many functions that can be completed using a graphical user interface (GUI) can also be completed easily using the command prompt. Like DOS, users enter commands into the command prompt causing Linux to execute these commands. In fact, DOS users would likely find themselves at home with the Linux command prompt since many of the old DOS commands also will work in Linux.
However, the benefit of using the command prompt is that this process can save an administrator time and effort. Actions that require clicking and navigating several windows in Microsoft Windows can be completed with a simple command in Linux. Taking time learn the commands and using these will allow you to do your job faster in the long run
Differences Between Using a GUI and Using a Command Prompt
First and foremost, the command prompt eliminates clicking the mouse. Everything is entered using the keyboard. Next, there are no icons when using the command prompt, everything is written in text. Although this is vastly different than using a GUI, it is important to understand that commands are a totally different way of navigating system files.
Common “Power” Commands
The more comfortable we become with using commands in Linux, operators will start to develop a list of commonly used commands. These commands may be different for everyone depending on what they are trying to do with the system. However some of the more common commands include: find, to locate files, emacs, used to edit Linux source code, killall for stopping processes that are running and ps to list processes running.
With a little practice computer operators can quickly master the Linux command prompt saving time and effort.
