To hone programming skills,what can I learn from "cmd.exe" command prompt in XP?

Question

I regret having stuck to Windows all my school & college life.I have rarely done anything using a command line interface.I never bothered to have hands-on feel of Linux/Unix environments (Though I have good theoretical/bookish idea).I really regret missing out on shell-programming and stuff.

So can you kindly tell me if if I can do anything on the XP cmd.exe shell that would help me appreciate internal commands and the workings of the OS better and further motivate me for programming?Or for that I need to learn Linux?I would be doing that, but it won't be possible for a few months.In the meantime, can I do stuff like "Shell Programming" etc on XP command prompt?Can I use the commands in cmd.exe to control the operating system?What are the possibilities?
Is XP command shell any good?Though I am sure it won't be as good or provide as much control as a Linux shell would over the OS and hardware, still, what is your opinion about the XP's shell?Can exploring it help me understand shell-programming better and help me when I move to Linux shells?

I do write programs through Borland C++ but I run them all through the IDE.I never needed to go to cmd.exe yet. What are the things I can do using commands provided in cmd.exe?Where can I learn about those commands?

Please bear with my clumsy talk and kindly guide me into this thing.I am sure you got my drift.

Answer 1

Write .bat files



I'm a linux user so of course I'm going to talk about how much more powerful the bash shell is than cmd.exe. After all, bash is shared by Mac OS X, most Linux distributions and FreeBSD and derivatives. Yadah Yadah Yadah. End of lecture. I can be serious about it but not today.



Many early microcomputers, including the IBM PC which evolved into Windows computers, defaulted to BASIC interpreters if you didn't put in media for another OS. An interpreted programming language like BASIC will run commands you type in, or you can use text files or other means (in BASIC originally numbering lines) to group commands into programs. You can do the same with CMD.EXE. Either type commands into the command line or type them into text files you save with the extension bat. .bat files are programs which are executed by the command shell. Got that? Also every time you add a program to your computer you are potentially extending the syntax cmd.exe recognizes.



There is in fact a lot to add, but that's the basic stuff.

Answer 2

Open a Command Prompt and type Help

Type a command followed by /? for syntax and info on options

You can also install the Windows Script Host if it isn't already, which lets you use VBScript and JScript:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8247



DOS and VB Scripting Links

Rob van der Woude's Scripting Pages - http://www.robvanderwoude.com/index.html

Beginners Guides: WindowsXP Command Prompt - http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1723

Beginners Guides: Understanding and Creating Batch Files - http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1767

Using batch parameters - http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/97731e49-ffa3-4918-87fb-5318743f29321033.mspx?mfr=true

Batch File Functions for NT4/2000/XP/2003 - http://www.commandline.co.uk/cmdfuncs/index.html

An A-Z Index of the Windows XP command line - http://www.ss64.com/nt/

Answer 3

Command prompt and terminal are not computer programming. They are operating system commands. You do the same thing when normally using Windows, but the command prompt has a graphical shell. Commands differ from operating systems and even versions of operating systems. When you compile through an IDE, you are simply using a graphical shell of that specific compiler's command prompt and commands.

Answer 4

Learn Cmd

Answer 5

A person who does things the way it is supposed to be done in their marriage life. Etc. Full fill the family need to, be the leader of the house. Etc.

Answer 6

Not particularly. bash and python are really better scripting languages, than the old DOS batch files.

Answer 7

msconfig change start up-boot services



ipconfig- Want to screw around with your internet or possibly fix something





ping a website to track its route

Answer 8

Put your hands on your head, and scream, thats better isn't it?