S1 Recap: First Contact

Session: S1

What You Did

You created a real Unix account, logged into it with SSH, learned the shape of the shell, navigated the filesystem, read system files, and generated your starter page.

That is not pretend progress. A server accepted your login and served your page.

Connect Again

Your chosen username is your Unix username. On Windows, open Windows Terminal from Start. On macOS, open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.

If you need to create an account without an SSH client, use the browser registration page. To reconnect without an SSH client, use browser SSH.

Commands You Met

• ssh: connect to the server.
• whoami: print your current username.
• hostname: print the machine name.
• date: print the current system date and time.
• uptime: show server uptime and load.
• pwd: print your current directory.
• cd ~: go home.
• cd ..: go up one directory.
• cd /docs: go to course materials.
• ls: list files.
• ls -la: include hidden files.
• tree: show directory structure.
• find /docs: list everything under /docs.
• cat /etc/os-release: print operating system information.
• less: read one page at a time.
• head -n 5: show the first five lines of a file.
• tail: show the end of a file.
• man: open a manual page.
• tldr: read a short command summary.
• build-website: build your personal homepage.
• clear: clear the terminal screen.
• exit: leave the shell.

Mental Model

The shell is a conversation:

1. You type a command.
2. The machine runs it.
3. The machine prints text back.
4. You read that text before typing again.

Your home directory is your base. System files such as /etc/os-release are readable clues about the machine.

/docs is your course-material playground. Run cd /docs, read anything in it, and follow what interests you.

IRC and guide

Join IRC at the classroom IRC page. Use #lf2607 for course help during class or between sessions, and #kolamayermakers for general chat.

guide is your course tool and AI tutor. Run it whenever you feel lost or have a question. DM guide on IRC for the same tutor. In a terminal, run guide now for your current session objective; after you complete it, it shows your current quest. Submit prompted answers with guide answer <your answer>, and run guide check after practical work. A passing check records your progress.

Never paste passwords, private keys, tokens, or private account links into IRC.

If You Are Stuck

• Run pwd to see where you are.
• Run ls to see what is near you.
• Use Tab completion instead of typing long paths blindly.
• Use Ctrl-C if a command will not stop.
• Press q to leave less or man.
• Read the error before asking for help.
• Run guide whenever you need help.

Live Core

If you attended live and generated your starter page, you have the core milestone for S1.

• You can SSH into your account.
• You can explain the shell as text in and text out.
• You can navigate home, read files, and run build-website.

Optional Reinforcement

Use the S1 quests if you want extra practice, missed the live session, or want guide-checked proof of the same shell and first-site skills. Run guide now to start, then submit prompted answers with guide answer <your answer> or run guide check after practical work.

Full Autonomy

If you missed the live session or got stuck, S1 Self-Study Guide: First Contact gives expected output shapes, recovery steps, and docs pointers. Use it before or after asking for help.