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4.1

The Terminal

Estimated time: 30 minTool: Terminal, Claude Desktop
After this drill, you can:

After this drill, you can navigate your file system, create and delete files, and run commands — using the terminal without fear.

Why this matters

The terminal is where Claude Code lives. Without basic terminal fluency, you cannot install dependencies, run builds, or use Claude Code at all. This drill does not make you a terminal expert — it makes you functional. The goal is not to memorize commands; it's to stop being afraid of a black rectangle. Every command here is one you will use in Modules 4 and 5.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Open your terminal: Terminal (Mac) or PowerShell/Windows Terminal (Windows)

    On Mac: Command + Space, type "Terminal". On Windows: Start → Windows Terminal. This is the environment.

  2. 2

    Practice the 5 essential navigation commands

    pwd (where am I), ls (what is here), cd folder-name (go into folder), cd .. (go up one level), mkdir new-folder (create folder). Run each one.

  3. 3

    Navigate to your Desktop and create a practice folder

    cd ~/Desktop → mkdir ai-training-practice → cd ai-training-practice → ls (should be empty)

  4. 4

    Verify your installed tools using the version commands

    node --version | git --version | code --version — all three should return version numbers.

  5. 5

    Use Claude Desktop to explain something you do not understand

    If any command confused you, paste it into Claude Desktop and ask 'what does this command do?'. This establishes the pattern: terminal + AI companion.

The prompt

PROMPT — Understand a Terminal CommandModel: Claude Desktop
I am learning to use the terminal. I just ran this command and got this result:

Command: [PASTE THE COMMAND YOU RAN]
Result: [PASTE WHAT APPEARED]

In plain language (no jargon): what did this command do? Was the result expected or does something look wrong?

Success criteria

  • ✓You can open a terminal without help
  • ✓You ran all 5 navigation commands and understand what each does
  • ✓node --version, git --version, and code --version all return version numbers
  • ✓You used Claude Desktop to explain at least one command

Common mistakes

Being afraid to run commands

→ The commands in this drill are all read-only navigation and one safe folder creation. Nothing here can damage your computer. When in doubt, ask Claude Desktop 'is this command safe?'

Trying to memorize all commands

→ You only need to remember: pwd, ls, cd, mkdir. Everything else you look up when you need it — that is professional developer practice too.

Getting lost in the file system

→ Type pwd to see where you are. Type cd ~ to return to your home directory. You can never get so lost that cd ~ does not rescue you.