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What is command prompt?
The command prompt is basically windows command line interface. It was generally used in the early days to open and run programs and to tell the computer what to do, when there was no simplified method eg, the mouse or track pad, which can now be used to navigate the windows interface. It command interface, or CMD for short was used as the communication terminal between the user and the computer, to tell it which programs you wanted it to run. It is very easy to use, as more individuals have constantly gone to experiment on it, and dig out the instruction manual on how to work with command prompt. To open command prompt on your computer, do the following steps;
- Tap and hold the windows home key on the keyboard, then tap the R key [a small white dialog box would appear at the bottom left of the screen. That is the run terminal].
Type cmd in the small search box there
Hit enter. [Command prompt pops up].
Alternatively, you do this;
Using your mouse, you click on the windows button [the start menu appears]
Click on the search menu bar below it
Key in cmd or command prompt. [the command prompt application pops up]
Click on command prompt [for windows 10, it brings out an option menu. Only use administrator mode if you want it to have permanent effect across all users on that computer]
- The command prompt pops up.
Similar to all “hacker” interfaces we know, it has a rudimentary black background with white wordings, and a glowing horizontal indicator that shows where what you want to write next is located. Better still, if you feel the white is boring, and you want to feel more “hackerish”, you can change the color with this following command in your command prompt interface;
- In your command prompt, move your cursor to the header, and right click
Click on properties
Here navigate and play with the color and the layout.
It’s that simple to use.
Why use command prompt?
This is like asking, why learn the valerian tongue, or why learn the Old Norse language? It’s because it’s very fun, and there is a type of satisfaction that comes from learning stuff, especially old stuff, which is plenty useful in the modern day era. Though command prompt may be older than the most of us, this doesn’t mean that it is not fun to use. For one, the thought of the use of syntaxes to communicate with the computer system makes it fun to do. It also shows, and attributes a sort of professionalism when you want to show of what you can to.
Command prompt has been here for ages, but recently, it has begun to see a little increase and rise in the tech space. This is because almost every tech based professional, including web developers needs to be able to use the command prompt, as it eases work, and has commands in short forms that will work and attribute to a specific place where you want to write anything you want to do. Take for instance you want to create a folder on your desktop, and you’re knee deep in open tabs, and your word or google docs is open, and you want to download something that you want to save in a folder in your desktop, and you do not want to go through the stress of closing/ minimising everything you are doing only to open them again. What do you do? You simply use the short cut for opening command prompt, and do the following to route it to your desktop. PS: The starting folder location is in your personal folder, the bedrock of all your folders.
Type cd desktop [this routes it to your desktop]
Type mkdir folder [you can give the folder name any name. it has been created to your desktop.]
To enter the folder, you do;
- Type cd folder [this takes you to your folder]
You have successfully created a folder without leaving your work, and can now store files, or the picture you wanted there. This is one of the many ways to use this. To get help for command prompt to understand more, simply type help on the interface, and it will show you more.
Command prompt and terminal.
They basically perform the same function, just that they have different operating systems they run on, and different syntaxes that perform the same operations. I am a windows person, so I know more of windows, not mac. But they are very good to use.
Conclusion
The command prompt revival is necessary, as tech developers especially web developers, and students can use these short cuts on this terminal to save time and work better and efficiently. It can also add flair and style to your work, and give you that professional vibe. It’s just simply amazing.