Let’s imagine your computer is a big city. The files are buildings, directories are neighborhoods, and these commands are your car, map, and demolition crew. Once you learn to drive them, you can go anywhere, find anything, and clean up the mess when needed.
The fun, friendly guide to finding, moving, and deleting stuff in Linux without losing your sanity (or your files… hopefully).
Why Should You Care?
If you’ve ever been lost in a Linux terminal wondering, “Where am I? What’s in this folder? And how do I get rid of this weird file that refuses to die?” — you’re in the right place.
Linux is powerful, but its command line can feel like a strict librarian who only speaks in code. The good news? Once you know a handful of commands, you can walk through your Linux system like you own the place. It’s like getting the cheat codes to your own computer.
1. Finding Your Way Around (Navigation Commands)
pwd — Your “Where Am I?” Button
Sometimes in Linux, you click around so much you forget where you are. pwd (Print Working Directory) is like pulling out your phone and checking your GPS.
Example:
You log in, type pwd, and see:
/home/alex/projects/webappNow you know exactly which “neighborhood” you’re in.
ls — Looking Around You
ls lists everything in your current location — like looking out the window to see what’s on the street.
ls -lgives you the “long version” with details: size, owner, date, permissions.ls -ashows even the “hidden houses” — those files starting with.like.ssh.
Scenario:
You’re debugging why your SSH keys aren’t working. You type ls -a in your home folder and spot .ssh — mystery solved.
cd — Moving to Another Neighborhood
cd folder_name is like hopping in your car and going to another street.
cd ..goes back one level (from/home/alex/projectsto/home/alex).cd ~takes you home instantly, no matter where you are.
Scenario:
You’re deep inside /var/log/nginx/error but need to go home fast. Just cd ~ and you’re there.
mkdir — Building a New Block
Need a new “street” for your files? mkdir reports makes a new directory.
rmdir — Knocking Down an Empty Building
rmdir removes an empty directory. But if the folder’s full, Linux says “nope.” In that case, you can use rm -rf folder— basically calling in the demolition crew.
Warning:rm -rf doesn’t ask questions. It’s like throwing a folder into a black hole.
2. Everyday File Operations
touch — Making a New File Instantly
Think of touch as opening a blank notebook.
touch notes.txtBoom, you have an empty file called notes.txt.
cp — Copying Files (The Backup Buddy)
Need to keep a safe copy before editing?
cp budget.xlsx budget_backup.xlsxNow you can break the budget file without fear.
mv — Moving or Renaming
Moving:
mv photo.jpg /home/alex/picturesRenaming:
mv draft.txt final.txtOne command, two purposes.
rm — Saying Goodbye Forever
Unlike your computer’s Recycle Bin, rm is permanent.
rm -i file.txtasks “Are you sure?”rm -rf folderwipes everything inside without asking.
Scenario:
You downloaded a “free” wallpaper but it’s actually 500 random files. rm -rf cleans it in one go.
3. Finding & Inspecting Files
file — What Am I Looking At?
Run file mystery.bin and Linux will tell you what it is. Could be text, an image, or something suspicious.
stat — File Detective Mode
stat report.pdf shows who owns it, when it was last opened, and more.
Scenario:
You find an old file and wonder, “Did I open this last year or last decade?” — stat answers.
find — Sherlock Holmes Search
Search in real time:
find /var/log -type f -name "*.log"This digs through folders until it finds all .log files.
locate — The Super-Fast Search
Unlike find, locate uses a prebuilt index — kind of like a search engine.
locate -i configIt finds Config, config, or even ConFIG.
4. Comparing & Monitoring Files
diff — Spot the Difference
Compares two files line-by-line.
Example:
You diff old.txt new.txt and see exactly what changed — perfect for debugging scripts.
sdiff — Side-by-Side View
Same as diff but easier to read visually.
lsof — Who’s Using This File?
lsof lists open files and which programs are holding them hostage.
Scenario:
You try deleting a log file but Linux says “file in use.” lsof filename shows that your text editor still has it open.
TL;DR
- Find your way:
pwd,ls,cd - Create/delete:
mkdir,touch,rm - Move/copy:
mv,cp - Search:
find,locate - Inspect:
file,stat - Compare & troubleshoot:
diff,sdiff,lsof
Learn them, and you’ll never feel “lost in the terminal” again.
Remember — with great power comes great responsibility… and in Linux, rm -rf is basically a lightsaber. Use it wisely, young padawan