is trying to catch up with the powerful Linux terminal – that’s why they created Windows PowerShell, a more powerful command-line shell than the traditional DOS-like Command Prompt. If you are only familiar with DOS and the Windows Command Prompt, you would rightly be skeptical of command-line interfaces – but the Linux terminal is so much more powerful and flexible than DOS or the Windows Command Prompt.
Learning the Linux Terminal
There’s obviously a learning curve to go through before you can use the terminal to compose your own commands. You can find quite a few tutorials for learning the Linux terminal here at How-To Geek:
- How to Manage Files from the Linux Terminal: 11 Commands You Need to Know
- How to Get Help With a Command from the Linux Terminal: 8 Tricks for Beginners & Pros Alike
- Become a Linux Terminal Power User With These 8 Tricks
- How to Install Programs in Ubuntu on the Command Line
- How to Manage Processes from the Linux Terminal: 10 Commands You Need to Know
- How to Work with the Network from the Linux Terminal: 11 Commands You Need to Know
In summary: Don’t be scared of the Linux terminal. It’s an optional, powerful tool. If a lot of Linux geeks end up using it, it’s because it’s more efficient for many tasks. Just as geeks use keyboard shortcuts to speed things up rather than clicking everything, terminal commands can be faster than graphical tools, after you learn them.