The first 8 Linux commands every new user should learn

"I remember when I started using Linux in the late 1990s. Back then, using the command line wasn't optional. If you worked with the open-source operating system, you had to spend time in the terminal. Even worse, if you needed to do anything with admin privileges, you had to change to the root user or even log in as root, which could be a security nightmare."

"Using the command line in the past was challenging because there wasn't as much help as today. I was on my own. Thankfully, I struggled through and became proficient. With the help of man pages (manual pages for commands), I survived those early days. Of course, the irony of me putting in all that hard work is that using the command line isn't a requirement now."

"Yet I remember what it was like learning those commands. At first, it was a struggle, but slowly the education stuck. Those foundations made it easier for me to continue onward and created a solid base from which to build. Although these commands are rather rudimentary, you should take your first steps and use the commands suggested below. Not only will they be the most helpful as you get started, but they'll also be the commands you use the most -- at first."

Using the Linux terminal is essential for learning core system operations and becomes faster with practice. Early Linux required frequent command-line use and root logins, which risked security. Man pages provide critical help for learning and troubleshooting commands. Building command-line foundations through repeated use makes later tasks easier and creates a solid base for more advanced work. New users should start with rudimentary but commonly used commands and learn options like ls -l to view permissions, owner, group, size, and timestamps, and ls -a to reveal hidden files and directories. Regular practice accelerates familiarity and confidence.

Read at ZDNET