Terminal & command line
Typing instructions straight to your computer.
TerminalA text window where you control your computer by typing commands instead of clicking.
CLIA tool you use by typing commands in the terminal, rather than through windows and buttons.
ShellThe program inside the terminal that reads each command you type and runs it.
CommandOne typed instruction: a program name, followed by what you want it to act on.
FlagAn optional setting added to a command with dashes, like --force or -v, that changes how it behaves.
Working directoryThe folder the terminal is currently "standing in," which is where commands look for files.
File pathThe address of a file, written as the chain of folders that leads to it.
Package managerA tool that downloads and tracks the ready-made code libraries your project depends on.
Environment variableA named setting stored outside the code, like an API key, that the app reads when it runs.
LocalhostYour own computer acting as a web server, so you can open the app in a browser before it's deployed.