Exposing Technology through the Command Line Interface
Technology has obviously become a vital element of our livelihood in the 21st century. While society has become increasingly reliant on information, communication, transportation and entertainment to get us through our day, the chaotic nature of today’s technology (both hardware and software) has been able to seamlessly integrate into our daily lives and routine. Our sensory world used to be simple: now we are able to effortlessly navigate between scrolling through Spotify playlists, drafting messages through countless different mediums (Email, MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook), while swiping left-and-right through dating apps (Tinder, Bumble) as we track the Uber driver who is scheduled to pick us up from the busy street corner.
In order for this technology to efficiently integrate into our lives, the user experience has to be beyond intuitive. Software manufactures design content to be instinctive to the point where humans no longer need to consciously reason what to do or how to do it. At face value, all we are doing is touching and scrolling through endless options and menus. Several studies have been conducted to “…demonstrate that unpredictable environmental stimulation drives autistic symptoms and behavior”, showcasing that the way we interact with technology does not resemble how our brains normally process information.
More importantly, the hyper-functioning stimulation we are constantly exposed to (technology) operates on a much more rudimentary level, almost like “1+1=2”. As Douglas Rushkoff argues in his book “Program or Be Programmed”, it is essential for us as a society to understand the basic logistical coding concepts that drive our programs. Otherwise, a rift will be created between those who create the platforms (i.e. programs and software), and those who consume the content. Just like the invention of the printing press influenced a society to learn how to read, the digital age will hopefully inspire a generation of “coders” who will be able to see the true potentials of a connected society.
One-way to begin unraveling the complex (yet relatively straightforward) inner workings of our computer is to play around with the Command-Line Interface (CLI). The command-line interface is a way to interact with our computer by issuing command prompts through specific lines of text. While not nearly as intuitive or efficient as modern User Interfaces, navigating through the CLI gives users the opportunity to operate their computer with much more precise detail. Working through this How-To-Guide will introduce you to the Bash Command Line, which will demonstrate how simply navigating, editing, and moving through file systems on your computer may not be as straightforward as it initially appears on your screen.
Additionally… you may refer to this cheat sheet/reference guide while completing the above tutorial.
