Terminal Activity: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Activity-terminal.svg|85px]] The [[Terminal]] activity grants access to the XO's [[Linux]] command line.
[[Image:Activity-terminal.svg|85px]] The [[Terminal]] activity grants access to the XO's [[Linux]] command line.


The Terminal is an Activity that allows you to control your XO directly from a command line, similar to the Terminal program in Mac OS X or the Command Prompt in Microsoft Windows. The Terminal allows you to do far more with your XO than running Sugar activities. But it is also possible to delete your data, and the system data from the command line, so be careful.
The Terminal is an Activity that allows you to control your XO directly from a command line, similar to the Terminal program in Mac OS X or the Command Prompt in Microsoft Windows. The Terminal allows you to do far more with your XO than running Sugar activities. But '''BEWARE''' it is also possible to delete your data, so be careful. And if you become the [[root]] user, you have full control of the computer and can destroy all software!

'''BEWARE: If you become user "root" by executing "[[su -l]] " you have full control — you can destroy all software!'''


See the [http://en.flossmanuals.net/terminal Terminal manual].


== Starting Terminal ==
== Starting Terminal ==


The Terminal Activity is usually not marked as a favorite, so it does not appear in the Home View Favorites view.
The Terminal Activity is found in the Activities taskbar at the bottom of your [http://laptop.org/laptop/start/homeview.shtml Home View]. You may need to scroll through the Activities taskbar by using the right arrow icon at the bottom of your screen ([[Image:Frame-scroll-right.gif|25px]]) to find the [[Image:Activity-terminal.svg|35px]] icon.

In the Home View, press ctrl-2 to select the List view, search for Terminal, and click on it to start.

You might also mark it as a favorite if you like.


===Starting a console===
===Starting a console===
You can also access a Linux command prompt by switching to the [[#The Console|console]], instead of starting the Terminal activity.
You can also access a Linux command prompt by switching to the [[#The Console|console]], instead of starting the Terminal activity.


== Common '''Terminal''' Commands ==
== Common '''Terminal''' commands ==
When you start Terminal, it runs the [[wikipedia:bash|Bash]] "shell" program that interprets keystrokes and commands. Its main job is to allow you to run other programs, for example:

* [[Sugar-Control-Panel|sugar-control-panel]] - Change [[Sugar-Control-Panel#nickname|nickname]], [[Sugar-Control-Panel#Color|XO Color]], [[Sugar-Control-Panel#Time|time zone]] and other options
* [[ifconfig]] - View [[Wifi Connectivity|Wireless Network connections]]
* [[nano]] for editing text files directly. If you want to edit text files in Sugar, use [[Write]].
* [[nano]] for editing text files directly. If you want to edit text files in Sugar, use [[Write]].
* [[yum]] for automatically installing new software.
* [[yum]] for automatically installing new software.
Line 33: Line 34:
* [[olpc-logbat]] - log the activity of the battery system. Useful for assisting developers in debugging battery problems.
* [[olpc-logbat]] - log the activity of the battery system. Useful for assisting developers in debugging battery problems.


There are hundreds of Linux commands available in the Terminal, [[Linux software]] describes some more of them.
You can find [[Keyboard Shortcuts]] and [http://laptop.org/laptop/start/keyboard.shtml the keyboard illustrated here].
The OLPC system software on the XO is a slimmed-down version of [[Fedora]] and so its command-line programs come from Fedora. Many command-line programs from Fedora are not available but experienced users can add them using [[yum]] or [[rpm]].


=== Users and super-user ===
There are hundreds of Linux commands available in the Terminal.
Initially Terminal begins as the default user (usually "olpc"). Some programs require that you run them as the [[root]] "super-user. You can prepend <tt>[[sudo]]</tt> to some of these, or press the #_ icon in the Activity menu to become root, or enter <tt>[[su -l]]</tt> to become root. The root user has awesome destructive power, do not run commands as root unless you have to.
The core Linux used on the XO is [http://www.Fedora.org Fedora 7].


== Copy and Paste into Terminal Window ==
== Copy and paste in Terminal ==


Several options:
It is not possible to [[Terminal#Cutting and Pasting|copy and paste from]] the [[Terminal]] as of [[Builds|build]] Ship.2 (the version all G1G1 donors received).
* Use the Edit menu, which is underneath the scissors icon,
So, if you are following some instructions from a web page in the Browse activity, and want to copy them into the Terminal activity, a pen and paper is required unfortunately.
* Press Shift+Ctrl+C to copy, Shift+Ctrl+V to paste,
Copy/paste is possible in [[Update.1]], but {{Trac|5376|DnD does not work in Terminal.activity}}.
* Plug a three-button USB mouse into a port and use the middle mouse button to paste,
* Click both buttons below the track pad (or click directly between them) to paste.
* Configure a bluetooth mouse on an XO-4 and use the middle mouse button to paste,


You can select text in Terminal's window and use the mouse or track pad methods to duplicate it without first copying it to the clipboard.
There is a partial work-around for this problem, using the third button of a mouse. See [[Scroll-Wheel Copy and Paste]]. That page also has instructions to make the right touchpad button act like the third button of a mouse.


=== Paste script ===
== Copy from Wiki and Paste in Terminal ==


You can create a script that pastes text from the clipboard into Terminal.
Many Wiki pages provide commands that are to be pasted into Terminal. For example:
echo this is a test
echo hello world
What you should do is:
* Start the Terminal activity,
* Press Alt-Tab to switch to the Browse activity,
* Use the mouse or touchpad to highlight the text of the commands,
* Press Ctrl+C to copy,
* Press Alt-Tab to switch to the Terminal activity,
* Press Shift+Ctrl+V to paste,
* Look at the outcome of the commands.


See also [[Compound_commands#Copy_and_paste|how to copy and paste a compound command]].
Open a terminal and create a new file named ''paste'' in the home directory, this can be done with nano for example.


== Other keystroke commands ==
nano paste
[[Keyboard shortcuts]] lists special keys in Sugar. Some of these don't work in Terminal, or require that you press the Shift key as well.


==Change font size in the Terminal activity==
In the file enter the following
To change the font size, click on the eye icon, then click on - or +.

#!/usr/bin/python
import pygtk
import gtk
cb = gtk.clipboard_get(selection = "PRIMARY")
print cb.wait_for_text()

Save and exit, then make the file executable by entering
chmod a+x paste

Finally to run the script to paste from the clipboard enter
./paste

==Change font size in the Terminal Activity==
Here is how to increase the print size in the terminal:

* Launch the Terminal activity.
* Type
nano ~/.sugar/default/terminalrc
* Find the line saying
Font = Monospace 8
And change it to
Font = Monospace 16
(or whatever you want).
* Press <tt>Control-X</tt> and answer '''Yes''' to save.
* Close the terminal activity (the X in the top right-hand corner)
* Re-open the terminal activity, the terminal should now be in larger print.


==The Console==
==The Console==
Another way to bring up the Linux command prompt is by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Neighborhood keys at the same time (the Neighborhood view key is represented by a circle with 8 small dots [[Image:Mesh key f1 small.png]]). This will switch to a console that runs outside the [[Sugar]] UI and X Window System. The console also displays some internal messages during XO operation.
(Note that many Sugar binding are not available in the console, so commands such as sugar-control-panel will not work there.)

To return to the X Window System environment, press Ctrl+Alt+Home keys ([[Image:Home key f3 small.png]]).

There is a second terminal (technically, <tt>/dev/tty2</tt>) outside Sugar that you can switch to by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Group keys ([[Image:Friends key f2 small.png]]).

===Changing font size in the console===
To increase the font size in the console, type:


Another way to bring up the Linux command prompt is by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+F2 keys in sequence.
setfont sun12x22


By design, not all XOs have the F2 legend on the key, see [[Keyboard#Missing_keys]].
==Cutting and Pasting==
===Using build 650===
It is not possible to cut and paste from the terminal to other activities. However you can use the the clipboard function (i.e., to cut and paste) to drop text into a terminal if you attach a 3 button USB mouse to your USB port. After you have copied text from the web page(usually Ctl C), switch to the Terminal activity, put your cursor on the command line and click your middle button. Doing that should cause the text to be copied successfully.


Ctrl-Alt-F2 will switch to a ''console'' terminal that runs outside the [[Sugar]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME GNOME].
: Isn't it possible to configure the X Server so that the "double chord" of pressing the left and the right mouse button at the same time, emulate the middle mouse button? But even simpler would be to use the right mouse button for pasting since it is not currently used in the terminal. -- Dov Grobgeld - 2008-01-23


To return to the [[Sugar]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME GNOME] environment, press Alt+F1. (On releases before 11.2.0, use Alt+F3).


Most Sugar or GNOME commands won't work on the console.
Also try "CTRL+SHIFT+V" for paste.


===gnome-terminal===
===Logging in===
Chew up some of that precious nand and install gnome-terminal so you can paste those long strings into a shell:


Press enter, and the console will log you in as ''root''.
su -1
You are now logged in as the [[root]] user, be very careful.
yum install gnome-terminal


== Alternative terminal program==
===Using joyride build 1606===
This '''experimental''' OS build has cut & paste included and working. You can update your whole system from the terminal as a [[su|super user]] by typing
olpc-update joyride-1606


You may also switch to the GNOME desktop to use the Terminal program there, in the Applications -> System tools menu.
[Note to authors: suggest providing (perhaps thru a link elsewhere) any well known pitfalls to using this experimental implementation on an XO used by a child]


=== See Also ===
== See also ==
* [[Linux software]] A brief description of <i>some</i> of the linux software that is installed with Sugar.
* [http://www.ss64.com/bash/ BASH Reference] A longer list of commands that can be used in the Terminal.
* [http://www.ss64.com/bash/ BASH Reference] A longer list of commands and programs (many are not installed on the XO by default because they aren't needed).

Latest revision as of 03:09, 5 December 2013

This page is part of the XO Support FAQ.     Support Index | Print This Page
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Activity-terminal.svg The Terminal activity grants access to the XO's Linux command line.

The Terminal is an Activity that allows you to control your XO directly from a command line, similar to the Terminal program in Mac OS X or the Command Prompt in Microsoft Windows. The Terminal allows you to do far more with your XO than running Sugar activities. But BEWARE it is also possible to delete your data, so be careful. And if you become the root user, you have full control of the computer and can destroy all software!

See the Terminal manual.

Starting Terminal

The Terminal Activity is usually not marked as a favorite, so it does not appear in the Home View Favorites view.

In the Home View, press ctrl-2 to select the List view, search for Terminal, and click on it to start.

You might also mark it as a favorite if you like.

Starting a console

You can also access a Linux command prompt by switching to the console, instead of starting the Terminal activity.

Common Terminal commands

When you start Terminal, it runs the Bash "shell" program that interprets keystrokes and commands. Its main job is to allow you to run other programs, for example:

  • nano for editing text files directly. If you want to edit text files in Sugar, use Write.
  • yum for automatically installing new software.
  • rpm - another way to automatically install new software
  • olpc-logbat - log the activity of the battery system. Useful for assisting developers in debugging battery problems.

There are hundreds of Linux commands available in the Terminal, Linux software describes some more of them. The OLPC system software on the XO is a slimmed-down version of Fedora and so its command-line programs come from Fedora. Many command-line programs from Fedora are not available but experienced users can add them using yum or rpm.

Users and super-user

Initially Terminal begins as the default user (usually "olpc"). Some programs require that you run them as the root "super-user. You can prepend sudo to some of these, or press the #_ icon in the Activity menu to become root, or enter su -l to become root. The root user has awesome destructive power, do not run commands as root unless you have to.

Copy and paste in Terminal

Several options:

  • Use the Edit menu, which is underneath the scissors icon,
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+C to copy, Shift+Ctrl+V to paste,
  • Plug a three-button USB mouse into a port and use the middle mouse button to paste,
  • Click both buttons below the track pad (or click directly between them) to paste.
  • Configure a bluetooth mouse on an XO-4 and use the middle mouse button to paste,

You can select text in Terminal's window and use the mouse or track pad methods to duplicate it without first copying it to the clipboard.

Copy from Wiki and Paste in Terminal

Many Wiki pages provide commands that are to be pasted into Terminal. For example: 

echo this is a test
echo hello world

What you should do is:

  • Start the Terminal activity,
  • Press Alt-Tab to switch to the Browse activity,
  • Use the mouse or touchpad to highlight the text of the commands,
  • Press Ctrl+C to copy,
  • Press Alt-Tab to switch to the Terminal activity,
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+V to paste,
  • Look at the outcome of the commands.

See also how to copy and paste a compound command.

Other keystroke commands

Keyboard shortcuts lists special keys in Sugar. Some of these don't work in Terminal, or require that you press the Shift key as well.

Change font size in the Terminal activity

To change the font size, click on the eye icon, then click on - or +.

The Console

Another way to bring up the Linux command prompt is by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+F2 keys in sequence.

By design, not all XOs have the F2 legend on the key, see Keyboard#Missing_keys.

Ctrl-Alt-F2 will switch to a console terminal that runs outside the Sugar and GNOME.

To return to the Sugar or GNOME environment, press Alt+F1. (On releases before 11.2.0, use Alt+F3).

Most Sugar or GNOME commands won't work on the console.

Logging in

Press enter, and the console will log you in as root. You are now logged in as the root user, be very careful.

Alternative terminal program

You may also switch to the GNOME desktop to use the Terminal program there, in the Applications -> System tools menu.

See also

  • Linux software A brief description of some of the linux software that is installed with Sugar.
  • BASH Reference A longer list of commands and programs (many are not installed on the XO by default because they aren't needed).
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