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Command Line basic commands

Start working on your project

In Git, when you copy a project you say you "clone" it. To work on a git project locally (from your own computer), you will need to clone it. To do this, sign in to GitLab.

When you are on your Dashboard, click on the project that you'd like to clone. To work in the project, you can copy a link to the Git repository through a SSH or a HTTPS protocol. SSH is easier to use after it's been set up. While you are at the Project tab, select HTTPS or SSH from the dropdown menu and copy the link using the Copy URL to clipboard button (you'll have to paste it on your shell in the next step).

Copy the HTTPS or SSH

On the command line

This section has examples of some basic shell commands that you might find useful. For more information, search the web for bash commands.

Clone your project

Go to your computer's shell and type the following command with your SSH or HTTPS URL:

git clone PASTE HTTPS OR SSH HERE

A clone of the project will be created in your computer.

Note: If you clone your project via a URL that contains special characters, make sure that characters are URL-encoded.

Go into a project directory to work in it

cd NAME-OF-PROJECT

Go back one directory

cd ..

List what’s in the current directory

ls

List what’s in the current directory that starts with a 

ls a*

List what’s in the current directory that ends with .md 

ls *.md

Create a new directory

mkdir NAME-OF-YOUR-DIRECTORY

Create a README.md file in the current directory

touch README.md
nano README.md
#### ADD YOUR INFORMATION
#### Press: control + X
#### Type: Y
#### Press: enter

Show the contents of the README.md file

cat README.md

Remove a file

rm NAME-OF-FILE

Remove a directory and all of its contents

rm -r NAME-OF-DIRECTORY

View command history

history

Execute command 123 from history

!123

Carry out commands for which the account you are using lacks authority

You will be asked for an administrator’s password.

sudo

Show which directory I am in

pwd

Clear the shell window

clear

Sample Git taskflow

If you are completely new to Git, looking through some sample taskflows will help you understand best practices for using these commands as you work.