First Linux commands in Linux CLI - Mini Project: Build & Apply

First Linux commands

📖 Scenario: You just started using Linux and want to learn some basic commands to explore your files and folders.

🎯 Goal: Learn to use simple Linux commands to list files, check your current folder, and create a new folder.

📋 What You'll Learn

Use the pwd command to show the current directory

Use the ls command to list files and folders

Use the mkdir command to create a new folder

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Knowing these basic Linux commands helps you navigate and organize files on any Linux system, like servers or your personal computer.

💼 Career

Many IT and programming jobs require comfort with Linux command line to manage files, run scripts, and work efficiently.

1

Show your current directory

Type the command pwd to display the full path of your current directory.

Linux CLI

# Type the command pwd to show your current directory
# Your code here

Hint

The pwd command stands for 'print working directory'. It shows where you are in the folder structure.

2

List files and folders

Type the command ls to list all files and folders in your current directory.

Linux CLI

pwd
# Type the command ls to list files and folders
# Your code here

Hint

The ls command shows what is inside your current folder.

3

Create a new folder

Type the command mkdir projects to create a new folder named projects in your current directory.

Linux CLI

pwd
ls
# Type the command mkdir projects to create a new folder named projects
# Your code here

Hint

The mkdir command means 'make directory'. It creates a new folder.

4

Check the new folder is created

Type the command ls again to list files and folders and confirm the projects folder is there.

Linux CLI

pwd
ls
mkdir projects
# Type the command ls to check the new folder projects
# Your code here

Hint

Running ls again should show the new projects folder in the list.

Practice

1. Which Linux command shows the current directory you are in?

easy

A. pwd

B. ls

C. cd

D. mkdir

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of pwd

   The pwd command stands for "print working directory" and shows the current folder path.

2. Step 2: Compare with other commands

   ls lists files, cd changes directory, and mkdir creates a folder, so they don't show the current directory.

3. Final Answer:

   pwd -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Current directory command = pwd [OK]

Hint: Remember: pwd = print working directory [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ls with pwd
• Using cd to show directory
• Thinking mkdir shows current folder

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create a new directory named projects?

easy

A. mkdir projects

B. mk projects

C. create projects

D. newdir projects

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the command to create directories

   The standard Linux command to make a directory is mkdir.

2. Step 2: Check the syntax

   The correct syntax is mkdir directory_name, so mkdir projects is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   mkdir projects -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Create directory command = mkdir [OK]

Hint: mkdir means make directory; use it to create folders [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using mk instead of mkdir
• Typing create instead of mkdir
• Using newdir which is not a command

3. What will be the output of the following commands?

mkdir testdir
cd testdir
pwd

medium

A. /testdir

B. /home/testdir

C. /home/username/testdir

D. testdir

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the commands

   mkdir testdir creates a folder named testdir. cd testdir moves into that folder. pwd prints the full path of the current directory.

2. Step 2: Determine the full path

   Assuming the user starts in their home directory (like /home/username), after changing into testdir, pwd will show /home/username/testdir.

3. Final Answer:

   /home/username/testdir -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   pwd after cd into testdir = full path /home/username/testdir [OK]

Hint: pwd shows full path, not just folder name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting just folder name output
• Assuming root directory path
• Confusing relative and absolute paths

4. You run the command cd myfolder but get an error: bash: cd: myfolder: No such file or directory. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You do not have permission to use cd

B. The folder myfolder does not exist in the current directory

C. The cd command is misspelled

D. You need to use mkdir before cd

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the error message

   The error says "No such file or directory", meaning the folder named myfolder is not found in the current location.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   cd is a basic command and usually not misspelled here. Permissions errors give different messages. mkdir creates folders but is not required before cd if the folder exists.

3. Final Answer:

   The folder myfolder does not exist in the current directory -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   cd error means folder missing [OK]

Hint: Check folder exists before cd [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming permission error
• Thinking cd needs mkdir first
• Misspelling cd command

5. You want to create a new folder named backup inside your current directory and then move into it. Which sequence of commands will do this correctly?

hard

A. mkdir
cd backup

B. cd backup
mkdir backup

C. cd backup
cd backup

D. mkdir backup
cd backup

Solution

1. Step 1: Create the folder first

   The command mkdir backup creates the folder named backup in the current directory.

2. Step 2: Change directory into the new folder

   After creating it, cd backup moves you inside that folder.

3. Step 3: Check other options

   cd backup mkdir backup tries to cd into backup before it exists, causing an error. mkdir cd backup misses the folder name in mkdir. cd backup cd backup tries to cd twice without creating the folder.

4. Final Answer:

   mkdir backup cd backup -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Create then cd = mkdir then cd [OK]

Hint: Always mkdir before cd into new folder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying cd before mkdir
• Omitting folder name in mkdir
• Repeating cd without folder