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School of Computing Science / Support / CSIL / CSIL Linux/UNIX FAQ / Basic Linux Command Line Survival

This page provides some basic instructions for using the command line interface on Linux computers in CSIL, the Computing Science Instructional Labs at SFU, followed by a set of links to books and sites with more extensive tutorials.

As they vary in detail, method and approach, try another one if the first one you try is not a good fit for you at this time.

Suggestions and corrections are welcome (email us please).

This page is aimed at new Linux users. CMPT 127 students may be particularly interested.

We assume:

  • you are a computer user; likely your computer runs Windows or macOS
  • you can use a keyboard (two finger typists ok!) and a mouse
  • you have at least a vague idea about folders and files

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What am I doing? What is going on?

You are learning a different way to interact with a computer, working at the command line. It means typing commands at a prompt - no mouse - typing only! But why?

  • it is often faster to do a task with a typed command followed by the Enter key than navigating menus to perform that task
  • you get a clearer understanding of what is going on behind the integrated development environment (IDE) you are likely to use in future courses and jobs
  • it allows you to access and do work on a Linux computer from somewhere else - the School provides CSIL CPU servers. please note: the GUI (graphical user interface) may not be available, or it may malfunction.
  • you may combine multiple Linux commands on a single command line in powerful and efficient ways

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What is Linux - what is an Operating System for that matter?

Most computers need to run an OS (short for Operating System) to be usable. An OS is a computer program that performs tasks like

  • running other programs (word processors, web browsers, C compilers...),
  • opening and reading or writing files to storage,
  • managing communication with other computers over a network,
  • getting your input of mouse actions and typing to the program they are meant for,
  • and getting the output of that program where it is supposed to go.

Linux is an Operating System, Microsoft's Windows is an Operating System, Apple's macOS is an Operating System.

  • they all have many fans and haters but given all the computer users who aren't in computing science, it is quite natural.
  • a user does not need to know much about Operating Systems to use a computer,
  • the School offers CMPT 300 to give in-depth knowledge on Operating Systems

Many flavors of Linux are available - they are called distributions or distros;

  • each Linux distro has many fans and haters - naturally.
  • CSIL uses a popular Linux distro called Ubuntu,
  • but, the basic commands work almost identically in all Linux distros.

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Step 0: Login, get that command line prompt

If you are an SFU Computing Science student, you may login with your SFU Computing ID (aka campus userid) and password to a Linux workstation in CSIL Burnaby or Surrey.

To physically get into CSIL, please use the valid card/fob issued to you.

Here we describe three ways to access CSIL Linux systems for practice and/or course work:

  • login at a CSIL workstation running Linux (aka console access)
  • ssh into a CSIL Linux CPU server from a CSIL Windows workstation
  • ssh into a CSIL Linux CPU server from your personal Windows or Mac computer

For more ways, please check out this guide.

Get command line prompt from a CSIL Linux workstation:

On the logon screen,

  • key in your SFU Computing ID, hit Enter key
  • key in the password for your SFU Email account, hit Enter key
  • review the dialog box contains essential CSIL rules, click "OK" to continue

* You may read through the full text of CSIL Policies before clicking "OK".

Once you are login, "Applications" and "Places" show up in the top-left corner of the screen (aka desktop),

Now, let's launch a command line prompt (aka terminal window):

  1. click on Applications to see its drop-down menu...
  2. ... on that menu click on Utilities to get a side menu...
  3. ... scroll down on the side menu to "Terminal" and click on that.

A terminal window opens, a prompt is displayed. Use the mouse to grow the terminal window a bit:

Now, you can start typing in your Linux commands.

 

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Get a Linux command line from a CSIL Windows workstation:
coming soon

 

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Get a Linux command line from a non-CSIL computer:
coming soon

 

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Now here are some extra resources for further study:

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Contact us!

Having comments, suggestions, inquiries and more questions? Contact us!

Please click here and use the best practices to get assistance from helpdesk.

 

Last updated @ 2026.07.20