Hands-on guide series
The Linux Command Line: A Hands-On Guide
A nine-part, hands-on introduction to the Linux command line and filesystem, from your first login to writing dotfiles. Every command run on a live Ubuntu server so you see the real output, not a mock-up.
What you will build
Security is layers, not a switch. Each part closes a different category of attack, from the automated sweep that finds a brand-new server, to the day one gets in anyway. Read them in order, or jump to what you need.
- 1
The Shell and Your First CommandsLearn Linux command line basics on a live Ubuntu 24.04 server. Run whoami, pwd, uname and id to see who you are and where you are before you change anything.7 min - 2
Navigating the FilesystemLinux filesystem navigation with cd, ls and pwd on an Ubuntu 24.04 server. Move around the directory tree and learn to read what ls -la is telling you.7 min - 3
Working With Files and DirectoriesCreate and move files on Linux with mkdir, cp, mv and rm. Practise on a real project tree so copying a config or cleaning up a release becomes muscle memory.7 min - 4
Viewing and Editing FilesView files on the Linux command line with cat, less, head and tail. Read configs and logs, and watch a log grow in real time while a problem is happening.7 min - 5
Wildcards and GlobbingLinux wildcards and globbing explained: how the shell expands star, question mark, brackets and braces before a command runs, so you act on many files at once.7 min - 6
Redirection and PipesLinux pipes and redirection explained. Send command output to a file and chain small tools together to answer real questions about your logs in one line.7 min - 7
Finding Files and TextFind files and search text on Linux with find and grep. Locate files by name, type and age, then search inside them for the one error line that matters.7 min - 8
The Environment and PATHUnderstand the Linux PATH and environment variables: why a command just works, why it sometimes says command not found, and what every process inherits.7 min - 9
Making the Shell Your OwnSet up bash aliases and dotfiles on an Ubuntu 24.04 server. Add shortcuts for the commands you type most and make every future login start ready to go.7 min