Command Line

What is the Command Line?

The command line is the text prompt you see inside a terminal window. It typically shows where you are on your computer (the current directory) followed by a cursor where you type. On Mac or Linux it might look like ~/projects$ and on Windows C:\Users\You>.

The terms "command line" and "terminal" are often used interchangeably in conversation, though technically the terminal is the window and the command line is the prompt inside it.

Common Commands You'll Use

A handful of commands cover most everyday tasks:

• ls (Mac/Linux) or dir (Windows) — list files in the current folder
• cd foldername — move into a folder
• cd .. — go up one level
• mkdir foldername — create a new folder
• pwd — print the current directory path (Mac/Linux)
• clear — clear the screen

Once you're working with AI development, you'll also use git, npm, and python commands constantly.

Why It Matters for AI Development

Almost every AI tool and SDK provides a command-line interface. Installing the OpenAI SDK is pip install openai. Running your script is python app.py. Starting a Next.js server is npm run dev. None of these have point-and-click alternatives — the command line is the front door.

Getting comfortable with a dozen basic commands removes a huge barrier to building AI projects.