Terminal Basics
About 5 minutes
In 2026, the tools engineers use every day have changed a lot. Claude Code, GitHub CLI (gh), npm, and git all run in the terminal or command line.
If you only work in a GUI, you will not get the full benefit of AI tools. Learning the terminal is the starting point for engineering in 2026.
What You Will Learn
Section titled “What You Will Learn”Learn the role and structure of the terminal in a beginner-friendly way. Understand the difference between GUI and CLI, how to read the prompt, and how to stop being afraid of the terminal.
Learn the commands engineers use every day with examples. Master file and folder operations such as ls, cd, mkdir, and rm.
Why the Terminal Matters
Section titled “Why the Terminal Matters”| Tool | Purpose | Interface |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | AI coding assistance | CLI (terminal) |
gh (GitHub CLI) | GitHub operations | CLI (terminal) |
git | Version control | CLI (terminal) |
npm / pnpm | Package management | CLI (terminal) |
brew | Mac tool management | CLI (terminal) |
To use these tools well, you need the basics of the terminal. Once you finish this section, you will be ready for the next step in your engineering journey.
See the references for the external specifications and background sources used on this page.[1]