2Using the Command Line

The command line is an interface to a computer—a way for you (the human) to communicate with the machine. Unlike common graphical interfaces that use “windows, icons, menus, and pointers” (i.e., WIMP), the command line is text-based, meaning you type commands instead of clicking on icons. The command line lets you do everything you would normally do by clicking with a mouse, but by typing in a manner similar to programming! As a data scientist, you will mostly use the command line to manage your files and keep track of your code using a version control system (see Chapter 3).

While the command line is not as friendly or intuitive as a graphical interface, it has the advantage of being both more powerful and more efficient ...

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