Command Line for Kids

Work in Progress

This is my syllabus for the 2012 Free Geek Summer Camp Command Line class.


 * Class Teaching Goals:
 * have fun, promote interest
 * run a program
 * introduce options and arguments using cowsay
 * introduce the command prompt
 * introduce man pages
 * introduce file system
 * Tab completion?
 * navigation and keyboard skills


 * Main concepts:
 * command line provides more direct access to the functions of your computer
 * using the command line gives you total access: Use it wisely!


 * Questions to pose to the class:
 * Why use the command line?
 * Have you ever used the command line before? What happened?
 * Do we use command line in Windows? What is different about Linux command line?


 * Exercise:

$ sudo apt-get install cowsay $ cowsay

Why does nothing happen? This program needs something else from us to run. Let's check the manual. $man cowsay

It looks like we need the cow to say something. Hit the q key to exit the man page.

So it looks like we have some different modes. There is -b for Borg mode -d for Dead mode -g for Greedy mode and so on.


 * Key words:
 * command line
 * graphical user interface
 * man page

telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
 * Fun things: