UNIX COMMANDS (the bare necessities)

mkdir Make directory creates a new sub-directory. To use, type mkdir , where "name" may be up to 256 characters long, but the symbol '/' may not be used.
pwd Print Working Directory. Displays WHICH directory you are in (Shows the current directory location).
ls List current directory contents Shows list of files in current directory
cd Change directory Type the name of the directory after the command (e.g., cd Mail to go the Mail sub-directory of your home directory). When used alone, it returns you to your home directory. Or use cd $HOME to get to your home directory
cp Copy files. Type the command followed by the old file and the new file names, in that order, such as cp oldfile newfile, and press Return.
mv Move files Type the command followed by the old file and the new file names, in that order, such as mv oldfile newfile, and press <Return>.
rm ReMove file Type the command followed by the file name, such as rm filename, and press <Return> Can be used with wildcard -- rm *.o would remove all files ending with .o extension (these are usually object files)
ls -lLong List of files Gives file names, as well as mode, owner, group, size, and creation date and time.
ls Short List of files Gives only the files names. If a sub-directory is given after the ls or ll command, the files listed will be those in the given directory. Otherwise, files in the working directory are used. -C used with ls, shows file names in Columns.
-a When used with ls or ll, gives hidden files as well.
cat Concatenate files Without redirection, cat prints the file or files to standard output (terminal display). With redirection, files are concatenated to the specified location. For example, cat file1 file2 > file3 copies file1 and file2 into a new file, file3.
more Displays contents of file to screen 1 page at a time. Used instead of cat command so that entire file can be seen page by page on the screen. Example: more hello.cpp displays the contents of file hello.cpp to the screen 1 page at a time.
lp print file to printer Example: lp Hello.java would print the file named Hello.java to the printer on the unix system.
a2ps print file 2 pages per side Example: a2ps Hello.java prints the file with 2 pages side by side, in landscape (can save paper if you can still read the small print.!)
r Repeat or RECALL command Used with a command to REPEAT last command. Example: r more Repeats the last more command you gave
history Gives a history of commands used Gives the last 20 commandsyou have typed at the terminal. Used in conjuction with r command (repeat) r 123 means repeat the command 123 (you get the number of the command from history)
passwd Changes password on system System prompts for old password, then for new password then asks for a verification of new password. Passwords must have 6 or more characters, at least 1 must be a NON-LETTER. Passwords are CASE-SENSITIVE as are ALL unix commands.!
emacs recommended text editor. Used to create files containing a program or any text. Example: emacs Test1.java opens the emacs editor and you are now creating/editing a file called "Test1.java". REMEMBER case sensitive file names.
exit logout (exit or kill) of the terminal session. In X-Windows make sure you logout of the Windows session also on the toolbar under the "-" box.