Useful Terminal/Unix Commands
CommandMeaning
./a.out execute most recently successfully compiled program
cd move (change directory / folder) to your home folder
cd ~/161 move to your 161 folder
javac myFile.java compile Java file named myFile.java; builds myFile.class
java myFile run java program Runs the main method of the myFIle class
cp x y copy the contents of file x and name the copy y
history get a list of commands you've used (!num repeats one)
less b display file b page by page; arrows move up and down;
spacebar moves down; q quits
logout disconnect from the machine
lp x.java print file x.java to printer; only plain text files
ls list the files in the current directory
ls -l list files, last time changed, size, and permissions
mv x.c x.java rename file x.c to x.java (Java files end in .java)
emacs x.java edit file x.java in text editor (not graphical from home; see below)
rm junk remove file named junk; can't be recovered
submitlog see a list of submissions you have made
!! repeat previous command; using up arrow keys may be easier
!prefix repeat most recent command that started with prefix

Control-C stops the running program. Typing Control-D indicates end of input.

Connecting From Outside the Lab

Many people prefer to work on their outside lab assignments from home rather than in the lab. You should also check your email for important class messages. You can check your email through Open WebMail (button on left near bottom) at: cs.millersville.edu. Use your cs userid and password. The rightmost icon of the set at top left exits this mail program.

If you are connected to the Internet, you can use a program called ssh to connect to a lab machine. Please choose a machine other than cs, such as shaw, perlis, hopper, or one of the many others. The full address for hopper would be hopper.millersville.edu all lowercase and letters. Use logout when you are done.

When you use ssh, you will have a terminal, not graphical, connection as if you were using the terminal application in the lab. Use the arrow keys in the terminal to repeat commands. The emacs in a terminal is not graphical and won't have syntax highlighting or working menus. But you can get by with very few commands. For simplicity, compile in the terminal rather than emacs. If you do this a lot, you should learn more emacs commands. But this is a minimal set that is enough to get work done.
Minimal Set of Emacs Commands
Use arrow keys - not mouse - to move around
CommandMeaning
emacs whatever.java start emacs editing whatever.java
control-X control-S save the current buffer
control-X control-C quit emacs