A Code Mage’s First Spell Book

This book is divided into four main parts:

I created Code-Mage to skip a lot of that setup stuff with cm init in a way that you can come back to later and understand it if you want. But that’s not all it can do:

I won’t lie, I’m very proud of Code-Mage. I really wish I had it when I was learning. In fact, making the things you wish you had is a great way to find project ideas and motivation. The source code for Code-Mage is entirely public domain and open for review so you can compile and install your own if you feel uncomfortable—as you should—trusting a downloadable executable from the Internet. More on that later (see Preparation).

Humans are social creatures and learning is communal. Join a community that is focused on learning the same things as you. Meetups, hacker spaces, clubs, church groups, social media, and live streamer chat groups are all great places to find a community. The community is a place to collaborate and share peer reviews of one another’s learning and projects.

My sincere hope is that the parents, teachers, and mages reading these words will find opportunities and motivation to create their own coding clubs and communities dedicated to helping others master the art of code and computer science and reap all the well-earned benefits of doing so.

While you are working on creating your own community, consider joining mine at https://linktr.ee/rwxrob.

Humans have been passing knowledge one to another since the beginning. It’s what we do. Luckily learning happens naturally when someone with experience and knowledge is available to someone who knows how to ask questions, apply what they learn, and return with more questions. That’s you, the inquisitive one. The mentor’s job is to answer questions and provide feedback—not to "teach" you.

Most mentors won’t have that kind of free time available to constantly lead you by the hand on your learning journey. In fact, the more likely you are to hear from someone, the less likely you are to want to learn what they have to say. There are those who do stuff and those that talk about doing stuff. The more someone talks about doing stuff the less time they have to actually do something. It’s important to find people you know who are regularly and actively engaged in doing the thing you want to learn and then approach them about possibly mentoring you, perhaps for a small fee (most will decline).

You will find that many people want to share what they know but just don’t know how to do it or who would want to hear. Find these people and approach them. Perhaps you can find a few mentors so you can compare how they differ in their approach to programming.

You don’t need any special training to be a mentor for someone else. In fact, as a beginner who has recently mastered something you are perhaps the best suited to help another beginner learn it because how you learned it is still fresh in your mind. Those with experience might be masters but often have difficulty remembering how they learned it and how to help others learn it as well. So don’t be shy by offering your help. And remember, you really haven’t learned it until you can succinctly help another learn it as well.

In my experience ChatGPT is great for overall help with life, writing, and project organization—particularly from a phone over voice. Claude is better at code help and only has an API integration making it great for plugging into popular coding tools (like mods from Charmbracelet).

Although I have nothing to do with any AI company, I do strongly believe in it as a learning platform and use it regularly to get answers and discuss topics 24 hours a day—even while riding my bike, code the boring stuff, and regularly practice my conversational and written Russian and French language. In fact, AI help with much of this book—especially the parts that must be validated to be sure they work (which I wish other coding books would do).

I highly recommend getting an AI learning assistant like ChatGPT as soon as possible. In my experience, such assistants are almost always better than than a random search of the Internet full of popular but incorrect answers to the same common questions that an assistant could better help with. My assistant is never tired of answering my questions even when my mentors or friends are.

On demand learning exponentially increases when an AI is involved. Nothing breaks through frustration and loneliness better when taking on learning challenges like a supportive AI companion even when a helpful human mentor is also available.

I believe we are quickly approaching a time when the digital divide will no longer be just between those who have computers and Internet access and those who do not, but between those who have learned to leverage a personal AI assistant loaded with contextual history and those who have not. We are already seeing this difference around us every day.

Coding is a tool for creation. It allows you to bring your ideas to life, whether that means crafting a personal website, developing a game, or designing tools to solve everyday challenges. The ability to write code transforms you from a consumer of technology into a creator, enabling you to shape the digital experiences you wish to see in the world.

From automating repetitive tasks to analyzing vast datasets, coding gives you the power to tackle problems efficiently. Whether in science, business, education, or personal projects, programming enables you to find innovative solutions and make a tangible impact.

The tech industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, with demand for skilled developers, engineers, and programmers far outpacing supply. Learning to code opens doors to a wide range of careers, from web development and mobile app design to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Even outside of traditional tech roles, coding skills are increasingly valued in fields like marketing, healthcare, and finance.

Coding teaches you how to think logically and systematically. By breaking down problems into smaller, manageable components and constructing precise solutions, you develop skills that extend far beyond programming. These abilities enhance your decision-making and problem-solving skills in all areas of life.

As technology continues to evolve, the ability to code will remain a vital skill. Even as tools and platforms change, the foundational principles of coding endure, ensuring that your skills stay relevant in a dynamic world. Learning to code is an investment in your future adaptability and resilience.

Learning to code connects you with a vibrant and supportive global community of developers, learners, and innovators. From online forums and open-source projects to meetups and hackathons, coding provides opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge, and grow alongside others who share your passion.

Learning to code is not just about mastering a skill—it’s about gaining the confidence to explore, experiment, and innovate in a world driven by technology. No matter your background or goals, coding has something to offer. The journey may have its challenges, but the rewards are immense. So take the first step—your adventure in coding awaits!

The day begins with the Code Mage stepping into their sanctum—a workspace adorned with multiple monitors, glowing softly like enchanted portals, or perhaps just a single laptop and a cozy seat. A warm cup of coffee or tea in hand, they review their spellbook, often written in Go, Bash, Python, or JavaScript. They study the tasks ahead: debugging incantations, designing new algorithms, or collaborating with their guild (team) or aritficial assistant.

The bulk of the day is spent weaving spells (writing code). Each line of code is a carefully crafted rune, combining syntax and logic to bring an idea to life. The Code Mage alternates between deep focus—when creating complex algorithms—and collaborative rituals like stand-ups or code reviews, where they share insights with fellow mages.

Their tools are many: - A Terminal of Power: Their command-line interface, where they summon commands to compile, build, and deploy. - Version Control Grimoire: Git, their repository of arcane knowledge, ensures their spells are versioned and shared. - An AI Consultant: A trusted companion for brainstorming, troubleshooting, and refining their spells, always ready with guidance and insights. - The Internet’s Tome of Knowledge: A vast resource for searching documentation, forums, and examples to expand their understanding and overcome challenges.

Challenges are frequent. A spell might backfire, causing errors or bugs to emerge. The Code Mage approaches these with patience and logic, unraveling the mysteries of the code to banish errors and refine their craft.

The greatest satisfaction comes when a complex system runs flawlessly or when a particularly elusive bug is vanquished. Deploying a new feature to production feels like lighting a beacon for all to see—a moment of triumph for the Code Mage.

The Code Mage knows that mastery of the craft is an endless journey. They dedicate time to study grimoires (documentation), experiment with new languages and frameworks, and attend gatherings of mages (meetups, conferences, or online communities). Knowledge grows with each passing day, like adding new spells to their arsenal. Failure to keep up with their craft might see them blown up by one of their own incantations one day.

As the day winds down, the Code Mage reflects on progress. They close their terminal with a sense of accomplishment, knowing they’ve pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. Sometimes, they ponder grander questions: how can their craft shape the future? How can they inspire new apprentices to take up the mantle of Code Mage?

The Code Mage doesn’t just write programs—they solve problems, empower others, and build bridges between technology and humanity. Their magic isn’t limited to code but extends to creating tools, services, and experiences that make life better. The world becomes a better place all around because of them.

A Code Mage thrives on curiosity. They are driven to explore new tools, languages, and techniques. This thirst for knowledge leads them to delve into documentation, experiment with ideas, and uncover innovative solutions to complex problems. Curiosity keeps the journey exciting and ensures they remain adaptable in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Coding can be frustrating at times. Bugs emerge, systems fail, and solutions may seem elusive. A true Code Mage approaches these challenges with patience and perseverance. They know that each failure is an opportunity to learn and grow, and they persist until the spell (code) works as intended.

At its core, coding is about problem-solving. A Code Mage must be able to break down complex challenges into smaller, manageable components. Logical thinking helps them construct precise solutions, while analytical skills enable them to debug and refine their spells with accuracy.

Coding is not just about logic—it’s also an art. A Code Mage uses creativity to craft elegant solutions, design user-friendly interfaces, and build systems that are both functional and beautiful. They are unafraid to experiment, taking risks to discover new ways to achieve their goals.

The smallest mistake in code can lead to unintended consequences. A Code Mage hones their attention to detail, meticulously crafting each line of code and reviewing their work to ensure everything functions as intended. This precision sets apart a true master from an apprentice.

The world of programming is ever-changing. New languages, frameworks, and technologies emerge constantly. A Code Mage embraces lifelong learning, staying updated on the latest advancements and continuously expanding their arsenal of skills.

While coding often requires focus and solitude, a Code Mage is also a team player. They collaborate with fellow mages (developers), share knowledge, and communicate effectively to build and maintain complex systems. They know that the strongest spells are often crafted together.

The digital realm is unpredictable. Systems crash, requirements change, and deadlines loom. A Code Mage remains resilient in the face of adversity, adapting quickly to new circumstances and finding creative ways to overcome obstacles.

Above all, a Code Mage possesses a genuine passion for coding. This passion fuels their dedication, making the long hours of learning and debugging worthwhile. It’s what transforms coding from a skill into a craft, and from a job into a calling.

Becoming a Code Mage is a journey open to all ages. Whether you are a young apprentice or a seasoned adventurer, it is never too late to start learning to code. While age doesn’t matter, having a grasp of basic algebra can be incredibly helpful. Concepts like variables, equations, and logic are foundational in coding, and those with a background in algebra often find it easier to pick up programming concepts.

Becoming a Code Mage is not about perfection; it’s about embracing the journey. If you’re ready to cultivate these attributes and immerse yourself in the magical world of code, you already have what it takes to start. The path ahead may be challenging, but the rewards are boundless. The realm of coding awaits—will you answer the call?

It is strictly typed enough to teach the importance of data types but loose enough to keep the syntax simple yet powerful. Go is also easily the least verbose and most understandable of all the strictly typed, statically linked modern languages.

Go was invented at Google to solve enterprise-scale problems facing one of the largest tech companies on the planet by innovators Rob Pike and Ken Thomson. These pioneers also contributed to the invention of UNIX, Unicode (think emojis), and C (in which all modern computer operating systems are written). It’s no surprise, then, that Go is the most significant enterprise language of the "cloud native" revolution. Practically every application of this modern movement has been written in Go, including Kubernetes, OpenShift, Docker, Podman, Consul, Nomad, Helm, Vault, and Terraform. You may not know those applications now, but you use them every day indirectly through the largest businesses in the world that critically depend on them.

Want to dual-class as a hacker and Code Mage? Go’s got you covered. Go is the darling of cybersecurity professionals all over the world, for good or ill. In fact, it is so popular Rob Pike officially asked people to stop making malware with it. In 2021, the sharp increase in incidents of malware written in Go was documented by several news outlets and watchdog groups. Go’s 100% compatibility with C, cross-platform compilation, significant standard library, embedded filesystem, decompilation challenges, and static linking make it perfect for hackers as well as engineers who just want to build a solid multi-call monolith binary (like BusyBox). Just search for "hackers love Golang" to read more about it.

Go’s sweet spot is for creating backend server APIs and terminal command-line tools, which is what this book is all about. After all, aren’t commands just spells we cast from the command line?

To create and compile Go-based command-line applications, ensure your workstation meets these minimum requirements:

Processor: A 64-bit processor (Intel or ARM).

Memory: At least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more is recommended for smoother multitasking).

Storage: At least 2 GB of free disk space for the Go compiler, dependencies, and your projects.

Network: Internet access for downloading the Go toolchain, dependencies, and updates.

Operating System:

These requirements ensure that your workstation is equipped to create and compile the applications you create efficiently and handle the Go compiler, Alacritty terminal, bash shell, and Code-Mage assistant.

A laptop offers unparalleled flexibility and convenience for coding, making it an excellent choice for learners. Here are some of its advantages:

Portability: A laptop allows you to code anywhere—whether at home, in a café, or at a library. This flexibility can help you maintain a consistent learning routine.

All-in-one design: Laptops combine essential components like a screen, keyboard, and trackpad into a single device, simplifying your setup and eliminating the need for additional peripherals.

Battery-powered: Laptops can run on battery power, allowing you to continue learning even during power outages or when you don’t have immediate access to an outlet.

Cross-platform testing: Many laptops can dual-boot or run virtual machines, enabling you to test your code across different operating systems (Mac and Windows).

Cost-effective for beginners: Entry-level laptops that meet the minimum requirements are often more affordable than desktop setups, making them a practical choice for new coders.

Real-world preparation: Many professional developers use laptops for their day-to-day work. Learning to code on a laptop helps you familiarize yourself with the tools and workflows you’re likely to encounter in the industry.

Collaboration and mobility: A laptop is easy to take to coding meetups, workshops, or classes, where collaboration with peers can enhance your learning experience.

While desktops offer raw power and larger screens, the mobility and convenience of a laptop often make it the preferred choice for learners and professionals alike.

When it comes to development, the choice between Mac, Windows, and Linux often depends on preference, cost, what’s already available, what is allowed at work, or compatibility with development tools. The choice of this main component of a personal development environment is a very personal one, make your own decision and don’t let anyone shame you for making it. Here are some considerations:

Efficiency: Launching apps and files directly saves time compared to navigating menus. Your fingers never need to leave home row on the keyboard.

Focus:Search and launch tools help you avoid distractions by providing a single interface for tasks.

Universal Skills: Mastering these tools makes you productive on any operating system.

On macOS, Spotlight is the built-in search and launcher tool.

How to access Spotlight:

What you can do:

Windows provides a built-in search tool that acts as a launcher.

How to access Windows search:

What you can do:

Linux has multiple application launchers, depending on your desktop environment and preferences.

GNOME: activities overview:

KDE Plasma: KRunner:

What you can do:

Speed: Quickly toggle between tasks without touching the mouse.

Universality: Works on nearly every major operating system, making it a portable skill.

Focus: Reduces distraction by helping you stay in the flow of your work.

Incorporating Alt + Tab into your daily workflow ensures you can multitask efficiently across all platforms.

On Windows:

On macOS:

On Linux:

Others:

This functionality is supported on all tablets and phones as well so long as you attach a keyboard to them.

Account Creation: Most services require an email address to create an account. Whether you’re signing up for GitHub to manage your code, joining an educational learning platform, or subscribing to a community forum, your email is the gateway to these opportunities.

Identity Verification: Services often use email for identity verification. This ensures that your accounts are secure and recoverable in case you forget a password or need to reset access.

Communication: Many platforms use email to send critical updates, notifications, and resources. A well-organized email account ensures you don’t miss important messages.

Privacy and Professionalism: A secure, reliable email address—especially one from a service like ProtonMail—protects your privacy and presents a professional image when engaging with communities and collaborators.

For most users, selecting a reliable and secure email provider is vital. While free services like Gmail are popular, privacy-focused options like ProtonMail offer additional benefits, including end-to-end encryption, a free VPN, and strong data protection.

GitHub: GitHub requires an email address to create an account and communicate updates about repositories, issues, and pull requests.

Educational platforms: Online learning platforms, such as Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy, use your email for registration and access to course materials. They also send reminders and announcements to keep you on track.

Community engagement: Developer forums, coding bootcamps, and discussion boards rely on email to verify users and facilitate networking.

Use a professional address: Choose an email address that reflects your identity and professionalism. Avoid overly casual or complex names. Restrict yourself to lowercase letters and only dots or dashes.

Enable security features: Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your account and ensure your provider supports encryption.

Organize your inbox: Create folders or labels for services like GitHub, learning platforms, and community forums to keep your inbox tidy and manageable.

Setting up a reliable email account is a small but significant step that unlocks a world of opportunities in learning and collaboration. Whether you’re diving into development with GitHub, joining an online course, or participating in a vibrant learning community, your email is the first key to the digital kingdom. Choose wisely, stay organized, and let it be the foundation for your growth.

Seamless Communication: Slack makes real-time communication easy with channels for focused discussions and direct messages for private conversations.

Community Engagement: Many livestream communities, open-source projects, and learning groups use Slack as their hub for collaboration and networking.

Team Collaboration: Slack is widely adopted in workplaces for organizing team communication, file sharing, and project management.

Integrated Tools: Slack integrates with tools like Google Drive, GitHub, Trello, and more, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.

Also see Why Slack over others?

Visit Slack: Go to Slack’s homepage in your web browser.

Sign up: Click on the "Sign Up" button. Enter your email address and click "Continue."

Verify email: Slack will send a confirmation email to the address you provided. Open the email and click the verification link.

Set Up Your Profile: Add a profile picture and fill out your display name and other details. Customize your profile to reflect your personality or professional role.

Consider installing app: Slack can be used entirely from the web but also has a desktop application and a mobile phone app that can also be downloaded for better ease of use. Unfortunately, there is no decent command-line app (like IRC).

Join a workspace: There are any number of great workspaces to join, here are a few recommendations:

Explore Slack Basics: Familiarize yourself with channels, direct messages, and mentions.

Practice Professional Conduct: Unlike platforms such as Discord or Twitch, Slack is often used in professional environments. Using clear, respectful, and concise communication not only fosters collaboration but also helps build a reputation for professionalism. Avoid casual or overly informal language unless the workspace culture explicitly encourages it. Use proper grammar, avoid slang, and maintain a polite tone in all interactions. Slack is not Discord, Twitch, or Reddit. Be professional.

Why This Matters: Professional conduct on Slack mirrors workplace expectations. Practicing these behaviors now prepares you for real-world employment scenarios, where Slack or similar tools may be used daily. It shows potential employers and collaborators that you can engage respectfully and effectively in team settings.

Organize Your Workspaces: If you join multiple workspaces, switch between them easily from the sidebar.

Enable Notifications: Set up notifications to stay informed about important messages without being overwhelmed.

Customize Settings: Adjust your preferences for themes, availability, and message behavior.

Whether you’re connecting with our livestream community, collaborating with a team, or exploring learning opportunities, Slack provides a flexible and robust platform for communication and collaboration. By creating an account today, you gain access to an ecosystem of vibrant discussions, shared resources, and opportunities for growth.

Version Control: GitHub is built on Git, a distributed version control system created by the inventor of Linux that helps you track changes in your code, collaborate with others, and maintain a history of your project.

Collaboration: GitHub enables teams and communities to work together on projects, sharing ideas, code, and feedback seamlessly.

Portfolio Building: Your GitHub profile showcases your work. It’s an excellent way to build a public portfolio for potential employers or collaborators to see your coding skills.

Access to Open-Source Projects: GitHub hosts millions of open-source repositories. Contributing to these projects helps you learn, network, and gain valuable experience.

Integration: Many tools, platforms, and educational resources integrate directly with GitHub, making it a central hub for your development activities.

See Why GitHub? for a more in-depth discussion and comparison to other services.

Visit GitHub: Go to GitHub’s web site in your web browser.

Sign up: Click on the "Sign up" button in the top-right corner and enter your email address, create a username, and set a strong password. Keep your username lowercase with nothing but letters and possibly a dash, avoid underscore.

Verify your email: GitHub will send a verification email to the address you provided. Open the email and click the verification link to activate your account.

Choose a plan: GitHub offers free and paid plans. For most beginners, the free plan is sufficient as it includes unlimited public and private repositories.

Set up your profile: - Add a profile picture and a bio that reflects your interests and goals. Optionally, link your website or social media accounts. Eventually, you will want to flesh out your special repo that matches your username that becomes your GitHub professional profile.

Create your first repository: A repository (or “repo”) is where your project files are stored. Click "New Repository" to start your first project. Name it notes or codebook and make it private, for now. Even though this isn’t really private stuff, it keeps from diluting your public appearance to others. Too many tiny projects and beginner repos distract from your online presence.

Follow some repos: Star and follow a few project repos. Consider starting with the following related to this book:

Who knows, perhaps soon you can contribute.

Creating a GitHub account is not just a task; it’s an invitation to join a global community of developers. Whether you’re learning to code, managing personal projects, or contributing to the open-source world, GitHub provides the tools and visibility to grow your skills and connect with others. Start your journey today and become part of the development ecosystem.

Preserving ideas: Our minds are like flowing rivers of thought. Without notes, many brilliant ideas risk being swept away. Notes capture these ideas, making them tangible and retrievable.

Enhancing memory: The process of writing, even on paper, strengthens your ability to recall information. It’s an active engagement with the material that makes it stick.

Organizing complexity: Notes allow you to break down complex concepts into manageable pieces, creating a map that guides your understanding.

Encouraging reflection: By reviewing your notes, you can identify patterns, revisit insights, and refine your thinking over time.

You don’t need a perfect system to begin. Even a humble notebook can be your first spellbook. What matters is consistency and intent. Scribble ideas, sketch diagrams, or jot down questions—whatever helps you capture and organize your thoughts.

Always be ready: Keep a notebook or a few blank sheets nearby, whether at your desk or on the go.

Write what matters: Focus on key points, insights, and actionable ideas rather than trying to transcribe everything.

Review and reflect: Set aside time to revisit your notes. What once seemed incomplete might spark new understanding.

As your habit grows, you might find value in transitioning to a digital system that organizes your notes into searchable collections. But remember: the tool is less important than the practice. What matters most is capturing the magic of your thoughts, whether in ink or bytes.

Taking notes is not just about recording—it’s about thinking. With each word you write, you deepen your engagement with your learning, your ideas, and yourself. Start small, stay consistent, and watch as your notes become a treasure trove of inspiration and growth.

Your spell book will not just be written in Go, but also Markdown, a lightweight markup language that allows document formatting and such using nothing but a plain text editor. This page will guide you through the essential features of Markdown, helping you harness its potential for organizing and presenting information. Markdown is perfect for taking notes because of the following:

Simplicity: Markdown’s syntax is intuitive and easy to learn.

Portability: Notes in Markdown can be used across various platforms and converted to formats like HTML and PDF.

Focus: By removing the need for complex formatting tools, Markdown helps you concentrate on the content.

Versatility: Markdown works well for notes, documentation, blogs, and even presentations.

The following covers only the Markdown syntax basics which are also covered for GitHub Flavored Markdown. You really don’t need all that right now and you should be careful not to make your notes incompatible with another Markdown tool later that you might want to use.

Headings

Create headings by prefixing text with one to six hashtag # symbols (but preferably no more than three):

Emphasis

Bold: Surround text with double asterisks (**) or underscores (__) (but preferably **):

Italic: Surround text with single asterisks (*) or underscores (_) (but preferably *):

Bold and Italic: Combine both for extra emphasis:

Lists

Unordered Lists: Use -, *, or + for bullet points (but preferably dash -). Use four spaces for indented sub-list items:

Ordered Lists: Use numbers followed by a period (just 1. is fine):

Links

Create clickable links with the format:

Images

Embed images using the same syntax as links, but prefix with an exclamation mark (!):

Code

Inline Code: Use backticks for short code snippets:

Block Code: Use triple backticks for multi-line code and the name of the syntax immediately after:

Blockquotes

Indent text with a > to create blockquotes. Keep paragraphs to a single long line wrapper than wrapping the text so that the source code itself displays well on any window or tmux pane of any size. Hard wraps never work well:

Separators

Also called "horizontal rule" using three or more dashes (----), or tildes (~~~~) (but preferably use exactly four to easily find them).

Tables

Create tables with pipes (|) and dashes:

Assuming you have don’t know what a package manager and have never heard of Linux before you can just go to the following URL, download the installer for your computer, and double-click it in your Downloads:

https://github.com/rwxrob/books/releases/latest

If you do have and know how to use a package manager, the following should also work:

Those package manager steps can be repeated later to make sure you always have the latest.

A reliable package manager is essential for managing dependencies, libraries, and tools effortlessly. On macOS, Homebrew (brew) reigns supreme, while Linux users can rely on apt (for all Linux distros supported in this book). Even Windows has embraced the modern winget package manager. You will soon see in the next steps that these tools significantly simplify installing and maintaining the components of your PDE, ensuring everything stays up-to-date and compatible.

Learning bash equips beginners with practical skills that directly translate to real-world tasks, providing a strong base for exploring more advanced tools and programming languages. The bash shell is the official Linux shell and a cornerstone of command-line environments. Most modern shell scripts are written in bash, which is actually safer than its POSIX shell predecessors when written correctly (double brackets instead of single, for example). Windows doesn’t come with bash so Git-Bash needs to be installed. Even though bash is preinstalled on Mac, it is very old and needs to be updated. All Linux systems come with the most recent bash so it need not be installed. Later, Code Mage assistant installs an initial ~/.bashrc file that can be further customized later and saved to your "dot files" on GitHub.

Speed matters when navigating your PDE. The default terminals that come on all operating systems are really pretty slow, some don’t even implement the entire ANSI escape sequence set making them much less fun to use. So a GPU-accelerated terminal like Alacritty offers blazing-fast rendering, smooth scrolling, and a modern interface. This ensures that your terminal keeps up with your pace, allowing for a more seamless and efficient workflow. Plus, this makes creating fun terminal animations and games all the more entertaining and—more importantly—memorable so you remember what coding skill or principle you learned while making it.

Don’t underestimate the power of aesthetics. A visually pleasing color scheme, like Gruvbox or Solarized, can make hours of coding feel less like a grind and more like art. Color syntax highlighting makes short work of understanding a complex bit of code. Code Mage assistant will install this theme in the next steps.

Your editor is the heart of your PDE. There’s no beating the minimalist power of vi (pronounced "vee-eye") the visual extension of ex, a descendent of ed the first official Unix text editor. Vim and Neovim are its descendants.

Vi is everywhere: Sure you could learn a GUI editor like VSCode (your friends certainly are) but vi is on just about everything by default and is preferred by discerning technologists who want to be good on any Unix-like system they encounter (rather than only their own bloated workstation). Even if you prefer a GUI editor later, say for web development (which makes sense), it is still best to learn vi first.

Vi navigation is in more than just editors: Lots of things that have nothing to do with editing text files depend on "vim bindings." This includes every Unix-like shell ever made (activated with set -o vi).

Vim filters: The vim filter commands (!!,!}, etc.) provide powerful shell integration that most other editors just can’t touch.

Some may wish to read Why no nano?

"What’s your window manager?" That’s a question people with way too much time on their hands will ask you. Soon you can answer "tmux!"

Strictly speaking tmux is a terminal session manager, a multiplexer (i.e. multiple screens, like a movie ciniplex) not a window manager according to most people’s definition, which is normally associated with a graphic user interface even though Ctrl-w in tmux stands is for "terminal windows" so yeah, tmux is a window manager.

Tmux isn’t just for managing windows, it also provides universal cut and paste functionality without leaving the terminal (stuff you cannot do with just a terminal editor) or using your mouse and allows live collaboration with your buddies all sharing the same virtual keyboard. Most importantly, however, tmux provides a safe way to leave something running and reattach to it later, even if your connection is dropped or your terminal crashes. This is virtually impossible without tmux. Learn it.

Source control systems like Git help manage the spellbooks of developers. They preserve your progress, allow experimentation without fear, and let you collaborate with others seamlessly. GitHub is the leading source control service and uniquely allows repos, pull requests, issues, comments to be managed with the gh command line tool (written in Go, btw).

Harnessing the power of command-line tools like the terminal web browser w3m and the command line AI query tool mods from Charmbracelet powered by the Claude API, creates a streamlined environment for efficient web browsing and AI-assisted research from the terminal that dominates those doing the alternative from graphic user interfaces. This setup ensures you stay focused, efficient, and immersed in the terminal-first environment.

Unix manual pages can be pulled up with the man command. The help command contains everything about the bash shell. And the Code-Mage cm command is there to check your work and provide a local copy of this book anywhere, Internet or not.

Git Bash provides a bash emulation environment for Windows, allowing you to use Unix-like commands and workflows. (Read more about Why Git Bash? if you are wondering about WSL, virtual machines, and containers.)

Launch the built-in powershell program as described earlier to get a command-line shell in order to install the new bash shell. Then run the following command which installs bash (along with git and vim):

This installs bash at "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe" which you can run from the Win search box by typing bash to test. Note that Code-Mage will update the Alacritty configuration later to use bash as the default for all new Alacritty terminal sessions.

Mac computers come with an outdated bash by default. You can update it using Homebrew but first we need to install it since it is not a built-in Apple product (even though it should be at this point).

Launch the terminal program as described earlier and then run the following:

Once brew is installed you can use it to update bash with the following command:

Unfortunately, Apple makes it hard to set this new bash shell as the default. Here’s how. Enter each of these commands one at a time:

After you restart your terminal it should use the new bash shell which you can check with the following:

Bash is pre-installed on most Linux distributions, as it is the default shell for many systems. All Linux distributions have a bash that is plenty new enough for everything we are going to do in this book. Here’s how you can check the version (after launching a terminal):

Mac:

Windows:

Linux:

If you managed to install Linux you probably already have a package manager and can just use that to install Alacritty instead. Open the built-in terminal and enter the following commands:

Don’t worry about customization for now. Running cm init later will automatically configure the Alacritty teminal to startup up with a nice theme and font and reasonable defaults. You can always come back and update them in ~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.toml file later.

GitHub’s dominance in the market isn’t just a matter of numbers—it’s a testament to its value:

Largest Developer Community: With millions of active users and repositories, GitHub is the go-to platform for collaboration and discovery. The sheer size of its community means more opportunities for networking, learning, and contributing to meaningful projects.

Industry Standard: Most companies, open-source projects, and educational platforms use GitHub as their primary development hub. Knowledge of GitHub is often expected in job applications, making it a must-know platform for developers.

Searchability: GitHub’s advanced search tools make it easy to find projects, issues, and contributions, helping you discover opportunities and solutions faster.

Project Showcase: A GitHub profile serves as a portfolio, showcasing your work to potential employers, collaborators, and contributors. Public repositories on GitHub are more likely to be discovered and gain traction compared to other platforms.

Integration with Ecosystems: GitHub integrates seamlessly with countless third-party tools and services, from CI/CD pipelines to deployment platforms.

GitHub’s command-line tool, gh, offers unparalleled efficiency for developers who prefer working in the terminal:

Ease of Use: gh simplifies common tasks like creating issues, managing pull requests, and cloning repositories—all without leaving the command line.

Efficiency in Workflow: GitHub’s CLI provides shortcuts for managing projects and repositories directly, saving time and effort.

Advanced Features: Interactive features like viewing pull request details or switching between branches are intuitive and developer-focused.

GitLab: While GitLab offers powerful CI/CD features, its interface and community size don’t match GitHub’s. GitLab’s paid tiers are often necessary for features GitHub offers for free, like private repositories.

SourceHut: SourceHut appeals to minimalists but lacks the extensive features, integrations, and user base that GitHub provides.

Bitbucket: Popular for enterprise solutions, Bitbucket trails GitHub in open-source adoption and community engagement.

For some, Microsoft’s acquisition of GitHub in 2018 raised concerns. Many don’t know that Microsoft saved GitHub from catastrophic bankruptcy. However, Microsoft has largely honored its commitment to maintaining GitHub’s independence and focus on supporting open-source development.

Investment in Features: Since the acquisition, GitHub has introduced numerous improvements, including GitHub Actions, Codespaces, and enhanced security features.

Open-Source Support: GitHub remains home to the world’s largest collection of open-source projects, demonstrating its dedication to fostering community-driven development.

While alternatives like GitLab and SourceHut have their merits, GitHub’s unparalleled visibility, expansive community, and best-in-class tools make it the platform of choice for developers worldwide. Even for those wary of Microsoft’s involvement, GitHub’s contributions to open-source development and its continued innovation make it an essential part of any developer’s toolkit. Choosing GitHub means joining the largest, most active network of developers and setting yourself up for success in the modern software development ecosystem.

Minimal Setup: Git Bash is easy to install and requires minimal configuration compared to WSL or a VM, which involve additional software and system configurations.

Low Resource Usage: Git Bash consumes very little CPU and memory, making it an ideal choice for quick tasks and lightweight scripting.

Instant Access: Launching Git Bash is near-instantaneous, whereas starting WSL or a VM often involves initialization overhead.

Native Windows Compatibility: Git Bash integrates directly with the Windows file system, allowing easy access to files without additional configuration. Windows paths (e.g., C:\Users\) are natively accessible, making it straightforward to work with local files unlike WSL which has an entirely different user home directory and plays with file permissions in crazy ways. A file created on Windows is not compatible with one created with WSL even though they are both visible. This is extremely confusing for beginners.

Git and SSH Ready: Git Bash comes preconfigured with Git and SSH, which are essential for developers working with repositories or remote servers. No need for separate installations or bridging tools.

“Git Bash Here” Context Menu: The right-click context menu integration allows users to open Git Bash in any folder directly, speeding up workflows that need bash but started from the Windows desktop.

Familiarity for Developers: Developers coming from Unix-like systems find Git Bash familiar, as it uses Bash syntax and tools. Unlike WSL or a VM, there’s no need to learn additional commands for managing Linux distributions.

No Dual Environments: With Git Bash, there’s no confusion about switching contexts between Windows and Linux environments, as is often the case with WSL or a VM. Plugging in a USB device, like a Yubikey works as expected (which absolutely does not work on WSL and is problematic with a VM).

Standalone tool: Git Bash is self-contained and doesn’t rely on external services or subsystems, making it easier to manage and update.

Cross-Machine Usability: Its simplicity makes it easy to replicate on multiple machines without worrying about installing and syncing full Linux distributions or VM images.

VPN networking: When logging into a virtual private network, for work, for example, Git Bash does not need special port forwarding that WSL or VM would require that you might not even be able to do depending on the security policies of your IT department regarding workstations. Git Bash is fundamentally just another application running on Windows so its traffic (from ssh say) always works.

WSL Drawbacks: WSL requires additional storage and configuration, especially when managing multiple Linux distributions. Some tools in WSL may behave differently from their native Windows or Unix counterparts, leading to inconsistencies. Permissions are inconsistent and USB devices cannot even be used.

VM Drawbacks: VMs require significantly more system resources (CPU, memory, storage) and often have slower performance due to virtualization overhead. Setting up shared folders and networking between the host and the VM can be complex and time-consuming.

Git Bash strikes the perfect balance for most developers:

For Git and development tasks: Git Bash provides all the essential Unix tools and commands needed for managing repositories and scripting.

For quick access: Its simplicity and speed make it ideal for everyday tasks without the complexity of maintaining a full Linux environment.

Default shell on most systems: Bash is official shell of the Linux project and the default shell on the majority of Linux distributions. Zsh is only the default on macOS because Apple refuses to accept the terms of the license change on the bash project (even though they say it is because zsh is "superior"). Bash is widely available, making it the most accessible shell for learners across different platforms.

Cross-platform compatibility: Bash works on Linux, macOS, and Windows (via Git Bash or WSL), ensuring consistent usage regardless of your operating system.

Industry standard: Bash scripts are used in countless production environments, making knowledge of Bash a valuable skill in the job market. Modern bash is far more secure than the ancient POSIX shell scripts from the boomer UNIX era (use of [[ ]] that does not allow expansion injection attacks is just one example).

Straightforward syntax: Shell scripting is never really that easy, its just powerful. But bash’s syntax is relatively simple and easy to grasp for newcomers—especially when compared to monstrosities like PowerShell. Commands and scripting follow logical, minimalistic patterns that are less intimidating for beginners. In fact, every line a person types on the command-line is an ongoing, running, interactive program. Placing any of those same commands into a file and running it becomes a script. In that sense, using bash at all is itself "coding."

Rich documentation: Bash has an abundance of resources, including tutorials, man pages, and community support. Most command-line learning materials are written with Bash in mind, making it easier to find help.

No Overwhelming Features: Unlike Zsh or Fish, which come with extra features and plugins that can confuse new users, Bash focuses on core functionality, allowing learners to build a strong foundation. Most importantly, bash generally only uses a single ~/.bashrc file rather than splitting them all out making it easy to configure and even easier to share that same configuration on any other system by simply copying a single file (which is what cm init does).

Write once, run Anywhere: Bash scripts are portable and can be executed on almost any Unix-like system without modification—especially if the convenient (albeit slightly less safe and performant) #!/usr/bin/env bash idiom is used (which is essentially required to get bash scripts to work on Homebrew macOS machines that put the latest bash binary in a strange place by default).

Widely Used in Scripting: Bash is the default scripting language for many tasks, such as automating workflows and managing servers. Learning Bash provides immediate practical applications in automation and system administration.

Learning Core Unix Tools: By using Bash, beginners gain experience with essential Unix tools (e.g., ls, find, grep), which are foundational for more advanced shell scripting and programming.

Zsh: Zsh offers many advanced features (e.g., plugins, themes, and auto-suggestions) that are appealing for experienced users. However, these extras can distract beginners from mastering core shell concepts. And no one ever writes a "zsh script" for anything because no one can count on zsh being on the system and writing POSIX shell scripts is less secure and more annoying.

Fish: Fish is user-friendly and visually appealing but is not POSIX-compliant, meaning scripts written in Fish are not portable across systems. It introduces unique syntax that can make transitioning to other shells or environments more difficult. More importantly, however, fish promotes terminal muscle memory that does not work when on another system without it, a common occurrence in todays cloud-native, containerized, virtualised world.

PowerShell: PowerShell is powerful and Windows-centric but diverges significantly from Unix-style shells, making it less relevant for those learning Linux or macOS environments.

Focused workspace structure: Slack’s channel-based organization makes it easy to create distinct spaces for specific projects, teams, or topics. Unlike Discord, which caters primarily to gaming and casual communities, Slack is optimized for professional and organizational communication.

Powerful search features: Slack’s robust search allows users to quickly find messages, files, and conversations, even across multiple channels. IRC lacks modern search functionality, and Microsoft Teams’ search can feel clunky in comparison.

Threaded conversations: Slack supports threaded discussions, keeping conversations organized and reducing channel clutter. Discord has a lesser version of this and IRC lack this functionality, leading to chaotic, hard-to-follow discussions in busy channels.

Wide range of integrations: Slack connects seamlessly with tools like GitHub, Google Drive, Jira, Trello, and many more. While Teams also integrates with many Microsoft tools, it lacks the breadth of third-party app support that Slack provides.

Custom workflows: Slack’s Workflow Builder enables users to automate repetitive tasks, streamline processes, and create custom notifications. Webex and Discord lack comparable built-in tools for workflow automation.

Intuitive interface: Slack’s clean, modern interface is designed for productivity and ease of use. Discord’s interface is heavily gaming-oriented, which can be distracting for professional environments. IRC requires technical knowledge to set up and lacks user-friendly features.

Cross-platform consistency: Slack offers a seamless experience across devices, including desktop, mobile, and web applications. Teams and Webex can feel less consistent or polished across platforms.

Rich notifications - Slack provides customizable notifications, ensuring users receive only the most relevant updates. Discord’s notifications can feel overwhelming, especially in larger servers.

File sharing and collaboration: Slack makes it easy to upload, share, and comment on files within channels. IRC lacks modern file-sharing capabilities, and Webex’s file-sharing features are less intuitive.

Professional branding: Slack workspaces can be customized to reflect your organization’s identity, fostering a sense of belonging. Discord’s branding and gamer-centric features may not align with professional or educational communities.

Moderation tools: Slack includes detailed user permissions and moderation tools for managing channels and workspaces. IRC and Discord require third-party bots or scripts for comparable functionality.

Enterprise-grade security: Slack prioritizes data encryption, compliance, and administrative controls, making it a trusted platform for businesses. Microsoft Teams offers comparable security features but ties users into the Microsoft ecosystem. Webex has strong security but lacks Slack’s modern usability and integrations.

User Privacy: Slack allows admins to set clear boundaries for data retention and access. Discord and IRC, while flexible, may not meet the privacy standards required for professional use.

Over-reliance on control key shortcuts: Nano uses control key shortcuts (Ctrl + letter) for basic operations like saving, exiting, or searching. While these shortcuts seem straightforward, they often overlap with critical terminal functions like Ctrl+C (interrupt) and Ctrl+S (pause/lock terminal output), causing confusion when beginners accidentally lock their terminal or interrupt running processes.

Limited Editing Features: Nano lacks advanced features that even basic vi provides, such as:

Encourages Dependency: Nano’s heavy reliance on displayed shortcuts can prevent users from internalizing commands, making them less adaptable to other tools.

Widely available:

Learn once, apply everywhere:

Encourages muscle memory:

By not relying on on-screen prompts, vi forces users to internalize commands quickly, building long-term proficiency and preserving terminal screen real-estate.

While nano’s simplicity might seem appealing at first, it ultimately hinders growth and can foster bad habits. Starting with vi, even at a basic level, sets a strong foundation for effective text editing. Vi’s ubiquity, efficiency, and transferable skills make it the better choice for beginners who want to build confidence and adaptability in the command line.

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