Question

What's the best way to get comfortable with the Linux command line as a beginner?

I recently spun up a few Droplets to start learning server management, and I’m realizing how much of it relies on knowing Linux commands. I can follow copy-paste instructions, but I want to actually understand what I’m doing.

Any tips or learning paths for getting better at using the terminal? Are there specific tools or commands I should focus on first?

Appreciate any beginner-friendly resources or advice!

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Bobby Iliev

Site Moderator

• May 21, 2025

Accepted Answer

Hi there,

Getting comfortable with the Linux CLI takes time, but starting with the basics like cd, ls, mkdir, chmod, and nano is a solid foundation. Best way to learn is by doing, spin up a Droplet and get hands-on!

You can check out DigitalOcean’s Linux Basics tutorials, they’re great for beginners.

Also this free guide here is really helpful: Introduction to Linux

If you have any questions feel free to post them here as well.

Hope it helps!

- Bobby

alexdo

Site Moderator

• May 21, 2025

Heya, @792d8c6065294b4da466a26b2a99e4

What I can recommend for any beginner is just navigate through the file system and explore how things work. You can use cd to change directories, ls to list files, cat to get the content of a file, nano to open files and etc.

Regards