# Mastering Terminal Commands: A Cross-Platform Guide for macOS, Windows, and Linux

The terminal is a developer’s best friend. Whether you’re automating tasks, managing files, or debugging applications, knowing how to navigate and use the terminal efficiently is a must. However, each operating system—macOS, Windows, and Linux—has its own terminal environment and command syntax. In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential terminal commands for each platform, highlighting their similarities and differences. By the end, you’ll be equipped to work seamlessly across all three! 1. macOS Terminal Commands macOS is built on Unix, so its terminal commands are very similar to Linux. The default shell is bash or zsh (starting from macOS Catalina). Basic Commands: Navigate Directories: cd /path/to/directory # Change directory pwd # Print working directory ls # List files and directories ls -l # List in long format File Operations: touch file.txt # Create an empty file mkdir folder # Create a directory cp file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file mv file.txt newlocation/ # Move a file rm file.txt # Delete a file rm -r folder # Delete a directory recursively System Information: uname -a # Display system information df -h # Show disk usage top # Display running processes Networking: ping google.com # Ping a website ifconfig # Display network interfaces 2. Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell Windows has two primary terminal environments: the Command Prompt (cmd) and PowerShell. PowerShell is more powerful and is recommended for modern development. Command Prompt (cmd): Navigate Directories: cd \path\to\directory # Change directory dir # List files and directories File Operations: echo. > file.txt # Create an empty file mkdir folder # Create a directory copy file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file move file.txt newlocation\ # Move a file del file.txt # Delete a file rmdir folder # Delete a directory System Information: systeminfo # Display system information tasklist # List running processes Networking: ping google.com # Ping a website ipconfig # Display network interfaces PowerShell: Navigate Directories: cd \path\to\directory # Change directory Get-ChildItem # List files and directories File Operations: New-Item file.txt # Create an empty file New-Item -ItemType Directory folder # Create a directory Copy-Item file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file Move-Item file.txt newlocation\ # Move a file Remove-Item file.txt # Delete a file Remove-Item -Recurse folder # Delete a directory System Information: Get-Process # List running processes Get-Service # List services Networking: Test-NetConnection google.com # Ping a website Get-NetIPConfiguration # Display network interfaces 3. Linux Terminal Commands Linux is the most developer-friendly OS when it comes to terminal usage. The default shell is usually bash. Basic Commands: Navigate Directories: cd /path/to/directory # Change directory pwd # Print working directory ls # List files and directories ls -l # List in long format File Operations: touch file.txt # Create an empty file mkdir folder # Create a directory cp file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file mv file.txt newlocation/ # Move a file rm file.txt # Delete a file rm -r folder # Delete a directory recursively System Information: uname -a # Display system information df -h # Show disk usage top # Display running processes Networking: ping google.com # Ping a website ifconfig # Display network interfaces Cross-Platform Tips While the commands differ slightly, the concepts remain the same. Here are some tips for working across platforms: Use Cross-Platform Tools: Tools like Git Bash (Windows) or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allow you to use Linux-like commands on Windows. Learn Shell Scripting: Writing shell scripts can help automate tasks across platforms. Leverage Package Managers: macOS: Homebrew (brew install package) Linux: apt (Debian/Ubuntu) or yum (CentOS/Fedora) Windows: Chocolatey (choco install package) Use SSH for Remote Access: SSH is available on all platforms and is essential for remote server management. Conclusion Mastering terminal commands is a superpower for developers. Whether you’re working on macOS, Windows, or Linux, understan

Mar 8, 2025 - 15:36

# Mastering Terminal Commands: A Cross-Platform Guide for macOS, Windows, and Linux

The terminal is a developer’s best friend. Whether you’re automating tasks, managing files, or debugging applications, knowing how to navigate and use the terminal efficiently is a must. However, each operating system—macOS, Windows, and Linux—has its own terminal environment and command syntax.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential terminal commands for each platform, highlighting their similarities and differences. By the end, you’ll be equipped to work seamlessly across all three!

1. macOS Terminal Commands

macOS is built on Unix, so its terminal commands are very similar to Linux. The default shell is bash or zsh (starting from macOS Catalina).

Basic Commands:

Navigate Directories:

  cd /path/to/directory  # Change directory
  pwd                   # Print working directory
  ls                    # List files and directories
  ls -l                 # List in long format

File Operations:

  touch file.txt        # Create an empty file
  mkdir folder          # Create a directory
  cp file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file
  mv file.txt newlocation/ # Move a file
  rm file.txt           # Delete a file
  rm -r folder          # Delete a directory recursively

System Information:

  uname -a              # Display system information
  df -h                 # Show disk usage
  top                   # Display running processes

Networking:

  ping google.com       # Ping a website
  ifconfig              # Display network interfaces

2. Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell

Windows has two primary terminal environments: the Command Prompt (cmd) and PowerShell. PowerShell is more powerful and is recommended for modern development.

Command Prompt (cmd):

Navigate Directories:

  cd \path\to\directory  # Change directory
  dir                   # List files and directories

File Operations:

  echo. > file.txt      # Create an empty file
  mkdir folder          # Create a directory
  copy file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file
  move file.txt newlocation\ # Move a file
  del file.txt          # Delete a file
  rmdir folder          # Delete a directory

System Information:

  systeminfo            # Display system information
  tasklist              # List running processes

Networking:

  ping google.com       # Ping a website
  ipconfig              # Display network interfaces

PowerShell:

Navigate Directories:

  cd \path\to\directory  # Change directory
  Get-ChildItem         # List files and directories

File Operations:

  New-Item file.txt     # Create an empty file
  New-Item -ItemType Directory folder # Create a directory
  Copy-Item file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file
  Move-Item file.txt newlocation\ # Move a file
  Remove-Item file.txt  # Delete a file
  Remove-Item -Recurse folder # Delete a directory

System Information:

  Get-Process          # List running processes
  Get-Service          # List services

Networking:

  Test-NetConnection google.com # Ping a website
  Get-NetIPConfiguration # Display network interfaces

3. Linux Terminal Commands

Linux is the most developer-friendly OS when it comes to terminal usage. The default shell is usually bash.

Basic Commands:

Navigate Directories:

  cd /path/to/directory  # Change directory
  pwd                   # Print working directory
  ls                    # List files and directories
  ls -l                 # List in long format

File Operations:

  touch file.txt        # Create an empty file
  mkdir folder          # Create a directory
  cp file.txt newfile.txt # Copy a file
  mv file.txt newlocation/ # Move a file
  rm file.txt           # Delete a file
  rm -r folder          # Delete a directory recursively

System Information:

  uname -a              # Display system information
  df -h                 # Show disk usage
  top                   # Display running processes

Networking:

  ping google.com       # Ping a website
  ifconfig              # Display network interfaces

Cross-Platform Tips

While the commands differ slightly, the concepts remain the same. Here are some tips for working across platforms:

Use Cross-Platform Tools:

Tools like Git Bash (Windows) or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allow you to use Linux-like commands on Windows.
Learn Shell Scripting:

Writing shell scripts can help automate tasks across platforms.
Leverage Package Managers:
- macOS: Homebrew (brew install package)
- Linux: apt (Debian/Ubuntu) or yum (CentOS/Fedora)
- Windows: Chocolatey (choco install package)
Use SSH for Remote Access:

SSH is available on all platforms and is essential for remote server management.

Conclusion

Mastering terminal commands is a superpower for developers. Whether you’re working on macOS, Windows, or Linux, understanding the nuances of each platform’s terminal will make you more efficient and versatile.

What’s your favorite terminal command or trick? Share it in the comments below!