Dev.to

Day 2: "Where Everything Lives: A Deep Dive into Linux Directories"

Let me break down the entire Linux directory structure clearly with practical examples you'll actually use: 1) / (Root) - The Foundation Everything starts here. Like C:\ in Windows, but organized better. Real-World Use: 2) /bin & /sbin - Essential Commands /bin (Binaries): Basic commands all users need (ls, cp, mv) /sbin (System Binaries): Admin-only tools (fdisk, iptables) Example: 3) /etc - Configuration Files The control panel of your system. Key Files: /etc/passwd - User accounts /etc/hosts - Network hostnames /etc/ssh/sshd_config - SSH server settings Real-World Task: Change your hostname: 4) /home - User Personal Files Each user gets a folder here (/home/yourname). Example: 5) /root - Admin's Home The superuser's personal folder (not in /home for security). 6) /var - Changing Data Where dynamic content lives: Real Issue: 7) /tmp - Temporary Files Cleared on reboot. Great for: Downloading installers Processing temporary data Security Tip: 8) /mnt & /media - Mount Points /mnt: Temporary mounts (manually mounted drives) /media: Automatic mounts (USB sticks, CDs) Example: 9) /opt - Optional Software Third-party apps install here (Google Chrome, JetBrains IDEs). Example: 10) /usr - User Programs Secondary hierarchy for: /usr/bin: Most user commands /usr/lib: Shared libraries /usr/local: Locally compiled software Key Fact: /bin vs /usr/bin: /bin = Essential for booting /usr/bin = Everything else 11) /proc - Virtual Process Info Not real files! Dynamic system/process data. 12) /dev - Device Files Hardware as files: /dev/sda = First hard disk /dev/ttyUSB0 = First USB serial device Example: 13) /boot - Boot Files Kernel and bootloader live here. Danger Zone: 14) /lib - Essential Libraries Shared libraries needed by /bin and /sbin. 15) /run - Runtime Data Newer systems use this for temporary system files.

Apr 6, 2025 - 06:23

Day 2: "Where Everything Lives: A Deep Dive into Linux Directories"

Let me break down the entire Linux directory structure clearly with practical examples you'll actually use:

1) / (Root) - The Foundation
Everything starts here. Like C:\ in Windows, but organized better.

Real-World Use:

2) /bin & /sbin - Essential Commands

/bin (Binaries): Basic commands all users need (ls, cp, mv)
/sbin (System Binaries): Admin-only tools (fdisk, iptables)

Example:

3) /etc - Configuration Files
The control panel of your system.

Key Files:

/etc/passwd - User accounts

/etc/hosts - Network hostnames

/etc/ssh/sshd_config - SSH server settings

Real-World Task: Change your hostname:

4) /home - User Personal Files
Each user gets a folder here (/home/yourname).

Example:

5) /root - Admin's Home
The superuser's personal folder (not in /home for security).

6) /var - Changing Data
Where dynamic content lives:

Real Issue:

7) /tmp - Temporary Files

Cleared on reboot.

Great for:
Downloading installers
Processing temporary data

Security Tip:

8) /mnt & /media - Mount Points

/mnt: Temporary mounts (manually mounted drives)
/media: Automatic mounts (USB sticks, CDs)

Example:

9) /opt - Optional Software
Third-party apps install here (Google Chrome, JetBrains IDEs).

Example:

10) /usr - User Programs

Secondary hierarchy for:

/usr/bin: Most user commands
/usr/lib: Shared libraries
/usr/local: Locally compiled software

Key Fact:

/bin vs /usr/bin:

/bin = Essential for booting
/usr/bin = Everything else

11) /proc - Virtual Process Info
Not real files! Dynamic system/process data.

12) /dev - Device Files

Hardware as files:

/dev/sda = First hard disk
/dev/ttyUSB0 = First USB serial device

Example:

13) /boot - Boot Files
Kernel and bootloader live here.

Danger Zone:

14) /lib - Essential Libraries
Shared libraries needed by /bin and /sbin.

15) /run - Runtime Data
Newer systems use this for temporary system files.

Read More

Tags:

Previous Article

Moonbirds and Indie Hacking in the NFT Ecosystem

Next Article

DeepSeek and Tsinghua University researchers detail an approach combining reason...

Related Posts

Introducing my first Python library! It is a port of An...

Mar 27, 2025 0

The problems I faced when coding a Pomodoro Timer with ...

Mar 17, 2025 0

From Idea to App in 2 Hours: Building WebMarkr with Nex...

Mar 28, 2025 0

Name

Email

Comment