Working with command line while at first intimidating is a simple and practical means to interact with the computer.
Basic Commands to get you started. follow each command by hitting enter
pwd - tells you where you are in the computer
ls - will list the files wherever you are. For example if you're on the desktop ls will show each folder on the desktop.
ls -la - will give a detailed list of the files in the current directory
cd directory name here - changes the directory. now's a good time to hit pwd you'll see you'll see you're in a new directory
cd .. - returns you to the previous directory
mkdir - creates a new folder in the current directory
rmdir - will delete files only if they are empty.
rm -rf - Will force delet if a folder contains other materials
control c - will stop a function
control z - will send it to the background
fg - brings the afore mentioned back to the fore ground
nano - brings up a text editor. This is great if you want to create a series of commands for something like Image magick
cat - outputs the contents of a file">" - replaces data into a document">>" - adds data to the end of the document
If you use the ls -la function you notice a string of letters interrupted by dashes to the left of each file. These letters indicates the privalages for the individual user, the group, and the owner.
W means someting is writable.
R means it is readable.
X means it is executable.
Using chmod and a series of 4 numbers you can change the privelags for the file. "The first digit selects the set user ID (4) and set group ID (2) and sticky (1) attributes. The second digit selects permissions for the user who owns the file: read (4), write (2), and execute (1); the third selects permissions for other users in the file's group, with the same values; and the fourth for other users not in the file's group, with the same values. (man chmod)"