Filesystem

Navigating directories

Covered topics: pwd, ls, absolute vs. relative paths, command flags, cd, path shortcuts.

pwd = Print Working Directory
ls = LiSt everything inside the current/given directory
cd = Change Directory

Click on a triangle to expand a question:

Topic 2.1

Relative vs. absolute paths. Using ~ as part of a longer path.

Question 2.2

In the figure above, if pwd displays /users/thing, what will ls ../backup display?
1. ../backup: No such file or directory
2. 2012-12-01 2013-01-08 2013-01-27
3. 2012-12-01/ 2013-01-08/ 2013-01-27/
4. original pnas_final pnas_sub

Question 2.3

Given the same directory structure, if pwd displays /users/backup, and -r tells ls to display things in reverse order, what command will display:

pnas-sub/  pnas-final/  original/

ls pwd
ls -r -F
ls -r -F /users/backup
Either #2 or #3 above, but not #1

Question 2.4

What does the command cd do if you do not pass it a directory name?
1. It has no effect
2. It changes the working directory to /
3. It changes the working directory to the user’s home directory
4. It produces an error message

Question 2.5

Starting from /Users/amanda/data/, which of the following commands could Amanda use to navigate to her home directory, which is /Users/amanda? Mark all correct answers.
1. cd /
2. cd /home/amanda
3. cd ../..
4. cd ~
5. cd home
6. cd ~/data/..
7. cd
8. cd ..

Note

You can watch a video for this topic after the workshop.

Getting help

Covered topics: man, navigating manual pages, --help flag.

$ man ls
$ ls --help

Question -h

Check the manual page for ls command: what does the -h (--human-readable) option do?

Note

You can watch a video for this topic after the workshop.