---
title: Linux Command Line
description: The Linux command line is a text-based interface used to interact with the operating system. You will understand how to navigate directories, manage files, configure system settings, and write basic shell scripts to automate repetitive tasks.
category: programming-tech
subcategory: devops
difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced
url: /subject/linux-command-line
---

# Linux Command Line

The Linux command line is a text-based interface used to interact with the operating system. You will understand how to navigate directories, manage files, configure system settings, and write basic shell scripts to automate repetitive tasks.

## Available Resources

2 Books • 3 Courses

## Courses

### 1. The Missing Semester of Your CS Education

**Author:** Anish Athalye, Jon Gjengset, Jose Javier Gonzalez Ortiz

Covers the practical tools computer science courses rarely teach: the shell and scripting, the command-line environment, editors such as Vim, data wrangling, Git, debugging and profiling, and metaprogramming. Each lecture has a video, full notes and exercises, leaving learners efficient at everyday terminal work.

**Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://missing.csail.mit.edu/

**Tags:** shell, command-line, shell-scripting, git, vim, debugging

### 2. Linux Journey

A popular and free interactive online course that teaches the fundamentals of the Linux command line. It's structured with clear modules and exercises, making it excellent for self-paced learning.

**Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://linuxjourney.com/

**Tags:** linux, command line, shell, linux fundamentals, interactive lessons

### 3. Operating Systems Fundamentals (Linux)

**Author:** Shadow Farrell

Introductory Linux administration course with virtual-machine labs and a capstone, covering shell basics, file systems and paths, text processing, users and groups, permissions and ownership, jobs and processes, partitions and system services. Learners can administer a Linux machine from the command line.

**Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Duration:** 4 weeks of study, 6-8 hours/week | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/akamai-operating-systems

**Tags:** linux, system-administration, file-permissions, process-management, command-line

## Books

### 1. Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

**Author:** Mendel Cooper

Free book-length guide to Bash scripting by Mendel Cooper, moving from basic scripts through variables, quoting, loops, functions, arrays, regular expressions, I/O redirection and subshells, with hundreds of annotated example scripts. Readers learn to write and debug nontrivial shell programs.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/abs-guide.pdf

**Tags:** bash, shell-scripting, linux, unix-shell, automation

### 2. The Linux Command Line

**Author:** William E. Shotts, Jr.

A comprehensive and highly-regarded book for learning the Linux command line. The author makes the command line accessible to beginners while covering advanced topics. A free online version is available.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://linuxcommand.org/tlcl.php

**Tags:** linux, command line, bash, shell scripting, system administration

## Youtubes

### 1. Learn Linux TV

This YouTube channel offers a wide range of Linux tutorials, including many focused on the command line. The content is practical and well-explained, suitable for various skill levels.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://www.youtube.com/@LearnLinuxTV

**Tags:** linux, command line, system administration, bash, video tutorials

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