---
Course : ftw-virgil
Topic: cli
---

# Command line interface

You probably have seen this in many hacking scenes


This is what a terminal console look like and as a programmer you will learn how to use this to increase your coding productivity as well increase your cool-i-ness under the untrained eyes.

## Overview

The command line interface (CLI) also called the terminal, or the shell. It’s a command language that allows us to work with files on our computers in a way that’s far more efficient and powerful than using a GUI (graphical user interface aka point'n'click).

**Remember, we type faster than we click !** ![](https://media0.giphy.com/media/13GIgrGdslD9oQ/giphy.gif?cid=790b761190d5bde7227b02946496dd33693d8ab1ff24f8e8&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g
)

**Proficiency in CLI will help you:**
- Coding effiency
- Smooth transition to Cloud based services
- Easier to debug
- Looks **dangerous**
- Become a skilled developer

## References

:::info
Read now [Beginner book for CLI 🦸‍♂️](https://launchschool.com/books/command_line/read/introduction)
:::

:::success
Also checkout this [Basic CLI video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5S_2BdrMJE) for step by step instruction with the basic CLI commands.
:::

:::warning
An amazing dev told me once that smart devs are not those with perfect memory of everything, but those who have perfect memory of where everything is using a cheatsheet.
Here is one for your [CLI-commands](https://www.git-tower.com/blog/command-line-cheat-sheet/)
:::

## Devtective game (Optional)

There is a **murder mystery** in town.

CoderSchool's *"**Devtectives**"* , ASSEMBLE!

Sharpen your skills then join millions of devs around the world to solve [this mystery](https://github.com/makersacademy/clmystery)

:::info
This is one of the most interesting programming excerise for beginner. With more than **4.3k** star on GitHub.

Do not try this if you want to move fast without fun.
:::

### :mag_right: Instruction

- Follow the README to start
- The Dectective Handbook is for guidance on command usage.
- `Mystery` directory contain the game setting (Crimescenes, list of People, list of Vehicle ...) which you will be investigating to find CLUEs.
- Your ultimate goal is to pin-point the correct murderer within the list of all People.
- And now ...

**The game is on !**


## Read more

Reading material for this topic is here: [Learn enough command line to be dangerous](https://www.learnenough.com/command-line-tutorial/basics)
This ebook has limited access to free content (section 1 & 2). However, as a beginner you only need those two CLI topics to be **safe**