command linehome-directory
What does ~$ stand for? For example:
user@ubuntu:~$
So far I know that the $ sign is a symbol for a regular user. If I'm not mistaken root have # at the end.
I also found a lot of commands in the forums that begin with $:
$ sudo apt-get update
So for what does $ actually stand for?
EDIT (28.01.2014) :
Today I came across this video that totally answers my question from 8 months ago and decided to share it here 🙂
BASH Basics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x73WTEltyHU
You don't need to install something, to search on google or to have an internet connection. Just open your terminal and first of all you must to run the following command:
man adduser
to open the manual page for adduser command.
Then, in that manual page type: /--disabled-login followed by Enter then press repetitively n to find all occurrences containing --disabled-login. Do the same for --gecos.
With a little bit of luck you will find out that:
--disabled-login Do not run passwd to set the password. The user won't be able to use her account until the password is set.
and:
--gecos GECOS Set the gecos field for the new entry generated. adduser will not ask for finger information if this option is given.
For those wondering what gecos actually is, wikipedia defines it as follows:
The gecos field, or GECOS field is an entry in the /etc/passwd file on Unix, and similar operating systems. It is typically used to record general information about the account or its user(s) such as their real name and phone number.
Vi is a screen editor for Linux, Unix and other Unix-like operating systems. Pronounced (vee-aye). Stands for VIsual.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi and http://www.techopedia.com/definition/10347/vi
Best Answer
The
~and$are elements of the command line prompt. This indicates that your computer (or more exactly, I guess, the shell you are running) is waiting for user input. It is prompting you to input a command.The
$is merely a separator or divider. It separates the command prompt from the command which follows it. When people write such things as$ sudo apt-get update(your example), they are simply telling you that the command, in this casesudo apt-get update, needs to be entered at a command prompt. Strictly speaking, perhaps, the$is redundant in this context.Other separators may be used in other situations. For example,
#is used for a root shell.The
~(called 'tilde') is shorthand for your home directory. When it appears in a command prompt, e.g.,user@hostame:~$, it indicates that the current working directory is your home directory. Thus if you run the list command,ls, without specifying any particular directory, it will list the contents of your home directory.(By the way,
$HOME, is not a command, as you suggest, but rather an environment variable. It determines the location of your home directory. You can see its value by running$ echo $HOME.)