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Linux Basics Course

Welcome to the Linux Basics course! This course is designed for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of Linux, the terminal, and command-line tools. By the end of this course, you'll be comfortable navigating Linux, managing files, and using basic shell commands.

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1. Introduction to Linux​

Linux is an open-source operating system widely used for servers, development, and embedded systems. Key features:

  • Open-source and free
  • Stable and secure
  • Multi-user and multitasking
  • Supports a variety of file systems

Objectives​

  • Understand Linux architecture
  • Learn basic shell commands
  • Manage files and directories
  • Use text editors and scripts

2. Getting Started with the Terminal​

The terminal is the main interface for interacting with Linux.

  • Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T on most distributions)
  • The shell prompt looks like this:
username@hostname:~$
  • Commands follow the structure: command [options] [arguments]

Example:

ls -l /home

3. File and Directory Management​

Commands:​

  • pwd — Show current directory
  • ls — List files
  • cd — Change directory
  • mkdir — Create a directory
  • rm — Remove files or directories
  • cp — Copy files or directories
  • mv — Move or rename files

Exercise:​

  1. Create a directory called linux_course
  2. Inside it, create a file notes.txt
  3. Move the file to a subdirectory week1

4. Viewing and Editing Files​

  • cat filename — Display file content
  • less filename — Scroll through content
  • nano filename — Edit files using Nano editor
  • vim filename — Edit files using Vim editor

Exercise:​

  1. Open notes.txt with Nano
  2. Add your name and today's date
  3. Save and exit

5. Searching and Finding Files​

  • find /path -name "filename" — Search for files
  • grep "pattern" file — Search inside files
  • locate filename — Quickly find files (requires updatedb)

Exercise:​

  1. Create a file log.txt with some text
  2. Use grep to find the word "Linux"

6. Process Management​

  • ps — List running processes
  • top — Interactive process viewer
  • kill PID — Terminate a process by ID
  • htop — Enhanced process viewer (optional install)

Exercise:​

  1. Run a background process: sleep 100 &
  2. Find its PID using ps
  3. Kill the process

7. Permissions and Users​

  • ls -l — View file permissions
  • chmod — Change file permissions
  • chown — Change file owner
  • adduser username — Add a new user
  • su username — Switch user

Exercise:​

  1. Create a file secret.txt
  2. Change permissions so only you can read/write it

8. Package Management (Debian/Ubuntu)​

  • sudo apt update — Update package lists
  • sudo apt upgrade — Upgrade installed packages
  • sudo apt install package_name — Install a package
  • sudo apt remove package_name — Remove a package

Exercise:​

  1. Install htop
  2. Launch htop and observe processes

9. Learning Linux with GameShell​

GameShell is a fun, interactive way to practice Linux shell commands:

  • It turns Bash into a text adventure game
  • Missions involve navigating directories, managing files, and using commands -Available in multiple languages

Getting Started:​

sudo apt install gettext man-db procps psmisc nano tree ncal x11-apps wget
wget https://github.com/phyver/GameShell/releases/download/latest/gameshell.sh
bash gameshell.sh

10. Next Steps​

  • Learn Bash scripting: loops, conditionals, functions
  • Explore cron jobs and automation
  • Study networking commands: ping, netstat, ssh, scp
  • Try Linux on a virtual machine or Raspberry Pi for practice

Resources​

Summary​

  • By completing this course, you should be able to:
  • Navigate and manipulate the Linux filesystem
  • Use essential Linux commands
  • Manage users, permissions, and processes
  • Explore Linux interactively with GameShell
Last updated on by charlesgauthereau