📋 The Terminal Cheat Sheet

Every terminal command you actually need, in plain English — moving around, making files, git, and deploying. Bookmark it: this is 90% of what anyone types all day.

🧭 Finding your way

pwdWhere am I? (prints the current folder)
lsWhat's in this folder?
cd foldernameStep into a folder
cd ..Go up one level
cd ~Teleport home (the panic button)
clearWipe the screen (deletes nothing)

🛠️ Making & reading things

mkdir nameNew folder
touch name.txtNew empty file
echo "text" > file.txtWrite text into a file
cat file.txtShow what's inside a file
rm file.txtDelete a file — ⚠️ permanent, no Trash!
open .Open the current folder in Finder

✳️ Claude Code

claudeStart Claude in the current project
(plain English)Just describe the outcome you want
/exitLeave Claude, back to the terminal
"commit and push my changes"Claude runs the whole git dance for you

🌳 Git — the daily dance

git statusWhat changed? (always safe to run)
git add .Gather all changes
git commit -m "message"Snapshot them with a label
git pushUpload to GitHub for the team
git logSee the history of save points

🚀 Vercel — shipping

vercel loginOne-time sign in
vercelDeploy a private preview link
vercel --prodDeploy to the real, live URL
(connect GitHub once)Then every git push deploys automatically

🧠 Survival tips

TabAuto-completes file & folder names — use constantly
↑ arrowReplays your previous commands
Ctrl + CCancel whatever's running (the escape hatch)
helpIn our sandbox: list what you can try
no spaces in namesUse dashes: client-website, not Client Website