CHAPTER 6
Getting to Know the Command Line
You may think of the command line as an archaic relic from the 1970s, with about as much relevance to computing today as a disco ball. Not so! Although Linux has numerous GUI programs, they're mostly just flashy frontends to underlying text-mode tools. By learning those tools, you'll be able to unlock Linux's true power, enabling you to get your work done more quickly. You'll also be able to manage should the Linux GUI system fail entirely, or should you need to log in and administer the system remotely. Command-line tools can also be scripted, meaning that you can write a simple program that performs a task more quickly or easily than could be done using the standard programs alone. For these reasons, ...
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