execute code or run certain file types (Python files as an example). Whilst a GUI typically is required for a smooth end user experience, CLIs are important for programmers to perform specific tasks, e.g. With a CLI, a text input by the user would be translated to do the same.īoth shells are important.

Sounds strange? Opening folders with a double-click only works as the finder (our shell - a GUI) manages the communication to 'tell' the computer that double-clicking a folder in the shell means 'opening it'. A shell manages the communication between end user and computer. The alternative are CLIs, on macOS also known as the terminal:īoth are so-called shells. GUIs are interfaces created to make the user experience as convenient as possible. If you are not in your home directory you would use a prefix of the tilde ‘~’ and forward slash, which is the home directory path: nano ~/.Get instant & unlimited access to all our existing (30+) courses, future courses and course updates! Learn all about web development and become an Academind Pro member! The commands below assume you are in your home directory: nano. zshrc file using the command line program called ‘nano’ if it doesn’t exist, if it does exist you add your aliases to the end of the file. bash_historyĭrwx-+ 5 ladmin staff 170 Jul 14 08:33 Desktopĭrwx-+ 6 ladmin staff 204 Jun 2 13:48 Documentsĭrwx-+ 8 ladmin staff 272 Jul 3 18:10 Downloadsĭrwx-+ 29 ladmin staff 986 Jul 3 17:49 Libraryĭrwx-+ 3 ladmin staff 102 Jun 2 12:53 Moviesĭrwx-+ 3 ladmin staff 102 Jun 2 12:53 Musicĭrwx-+ 4 ladmin staff 136 Jun 2 12:53 Picturesĭrwxr-xr-x+ 4 ladmin staff 136 Jun 2 12:53 Publicĭrwxr-xr-x+ 6 ladmin staff 204 Jul 3 18:11 SitesĬreate the. DS_Storeĭrwx- 5 ladmin staff 170 Jul 3 18:44. List your home directory contents including invisible files to see if the file already exists, use: ls -la drwxr-xr-x+ 18 ladmin staff 612 Jul 14 09:21. Go to your home directory by just entering ‘ cd’ followed by the ‘return’ key to enter the command: cd Launch Terminal from the /Application/Utilities folder

zshrc file which lives in your home account directory, if the file does not already exist, just create one.Īs of macOS 10.6 Catalina and its successor Big Sur, Apple has made the zsh shell the default shell, previously it was the bash shell. To make aliases of macOS Unix commands in your bash or zsh shell on macOS and earlier versions, it is done via your.

Mac create new file from terminal