The Command-Line Field Guide

What is argument?

Extra information you give a command.

e.g. Like the filename in 'cat notes.txt'

What is branch?

A parallel copy of your project where you can try changes without touching the main version.

What is client?

Your computer or app when it is the one asking a server for something — the opposite end of a server.

What is clone?

Making your own local copy of a repository that lives somewhere else.

What is command line?

Controlling a computer by typing text commands, instead of using a mouse and windows.

What is commit?

A saved snapshot of your project at one moment, with a short note about what changed.

What is directory?

Another word for a folder — a container that holds files and other folders.

What is filesystem?

How a computer organizes all its files and folders into a tree.

What is flag?

A small option added to a command to change how it works.

e.g. Usually written like -l or --all

What is git?

A tool that tracks every version of your files so you can save, undo, and work with others safely.

What is GitHub?

A website that hosts git repositories online so people can store and share code.

What is glob?

A pattern like *.log that matches many filenames at once.

What is path?

The address of a file or folder.

e.g. Like /home/cadet/notes.txt

What is pipe?

Sends the output of one command straight into the next, written with the | symbol.

What is prompt?

The little text the terminal shows before your cursor, waiting for you to type.

What is pull?

Bringing changes down from the remote copy into your local one.

What is push?

Sending your local commits up to the remote copy, such as GitHub.

What is recursive?

Repeating through every folder inside a folder, all the way down.

What is remote?

A copy of your repository that lives on a server (like GitHub) so other people and devices can reach it.

What is repository?

A project folder that git is tracking — it remembers every saved version of your files.

What is server?

A computer that stays on so other computers can connect and ask it for things — web pages, files, email.

What is shell?

The program inside the terminal that reads your commands and runs them.

e.g. bash and zsh are shells.

What is SSH?

A secure way to log into or connect to another computer over the internet.

What is terminal?

The text window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons.