Getting Started with Linux
What Linux is, the shell, and your first commands.
On this page3 sections
Linux is a free, open-source operating system kernel that powers everything from phones to supercomputers. Most servers on the internet run Linux, and it is the single most important skill for anyone in DevOps, cloud, or backend development.
What is the shell?
The shell is a program that takes commands from your keyboard and gives them to the operating system. The most common shell on Linux is called bash.
When you open a terminal, you see a prompt that ends with a dollar sign $. Everything you type after that prompt is a command.
Your first commands
Try these in the practice terminal (opens in a new tab):
whoami # show your current user
date # show the current date and time
echo hello # print "hello"
clear # clear the screen
Lines that start with
#are comments; the shell ignores them. They are just for you.
Why learn the command line?
- Far faster than clicking through menus.
- Automatable; write a script once, run it forever.
- Works the same on a tiny VM or a giant cluster.
When you're ready, hit Mark complete and move to the next lesson.
Challenge
Use a single command to print the word linux to the screen.
Want to experiment first? Try things in the practice terminal (opens in a new tab), then enter the command that solves the task here.
Quiz
Lock in the concepts. Score at least 80% to mark the lesson complete.
Done with this one?
Skipped the challenge? You can mark the lesson complete by hand.