Learning Linux Commands as a Beginner: My Journey with AWS EC2

When I opened a Linux terminal, I felt like I had entered another world. There are no colorful icons, no drag-and-drop, only a blinking cursor waiting for me to input something. At the time, typing ls felt like magic because it displayed a list of files. But learning Linux commands hasn't been easy .There's been a lot of uncertainty, irritation, and small success .

I was nervous when I had to type even the simplest ls . I frequently wondered whether a single incorrect command could bring down the entire system.

I got totally lost. Commands felt tough to recall and made confusing. For what reason did cd change directories? Why not simply "change"? I kept getting messages like "command not found" and "permission denied," and every step felt confusing.

However, a gradual transformation occurred. The longer I was at the terminal, the more things began to make sense. To find the purpose of every action could do, I started playing with simple commands, examining files, browsing directories. Even though I still made mistakes, I learned from each one.

Slowly, then, things began to make sense. I got more comfortable with the terminal the more I used it. I came to believe that working with Linux on a daily basis is a better method to understand the system than simply memorizing commands. Lessons were learned from mistakes, and I gained confidence from every little accomplishment.

Learning how to use ssh to connect with servers far away was one of the most important events in my life. I can recall the first time I logged into an AWS EC2 instance using a .pem file.

When I finally understood the concept of private keys and permissions, it seemed like reaching a new level. I felt that I was working on actual projects rather than just practicing on my own computer when I ran commands directly on a cloud server.

It's true that at first, I wasn't really sure how to set up the EC2 server correctly. I assumed everything would remain free because I was utilizing the free tier. However, I made a mistake during setup and accidentally selected a different storage choice instead of the conventional magnetic storage. I got a $5 bill for that small mistake 😵‍💫😵‍💫. It was as a harsh but crucial reminder for me that even small mistakes in cloud computing may have a significant financial impact.

I have spent the most of my Linux practice on these virtual servers. I began to understand how commands relate to real-world operations, whether it was through file management, log checking, or playing with awk , grep , chmod , chown and ps etc.

Typing commands through a tutorial is one thing, but using them on an actual server where every action matters is entirely different. Copying some file from the server and store them on the local host devices and vice versa is one the favorite parts of my entire journey .

In the future, I believe all that was worthwhile. Exploration was more important while learning Linux than memorizing it . The terminal is the gateway to comprehending how systems actually function, so there's no need to be anxious about it.

My advise for people who are just starting out is to not shy away from the challenging aspects. Connect to servers, make mistakes, correct them, and keep improving your skills. Actual learning happens there.