macOS Shell for Beginners
The shell is a very powerful tool, and with the Terminal application that comes pre-installed on every macOS system, it is easy to use. However, for beginners, the command line might appear intimidating, especially when confronted with numerous commands.
The book macOS Shell for Beginners aims to help here. It offers an easy-to-understand introduction to working with the shell. After a brief overview of the macOS file system, the reader is equipped with the knowledge necessary to navigate the file system using the shell. Furthermore, basic file operations are explained, such as creating, copying, moving, or deleting folders and files—tasks that are relevant for everyday practice. In the later chapters, the book covers additional useful commands (e.g. archiving and compressing files).
This book is intended for beginners. Users who are already familiar with the shell are unlikely to find new insights here. Accordingly, the chapters deliberately avoid diving into advanced details. Instead, the focus is on providing a solid presentation of essential commands.
Whether you’re a beginner simply looking to expand your knowledge of macOS or need to use the shell to perform specific tasks, this book offers an easy-to-understand introduction to the subject.
With the switch from Bash to Z Shell (starting with macOS Catalina), an update was necessary. Since June 2025, a 4th edition has been available that focuses on the Z Shell (zsh). Additionally, the new version explains how to access cloud data (iCloud Drive) via the shell. I have also tried to make the explanation of file permissions more understandable.
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