Learning Journal Unit # 5
Subject: Operating Systems – II
Instructor: Ebunayo Jimoh
Submitted By: Muhammad Abdul Rehman Khan
Date: 09- 10- 2025
Introduction
This week, I explored the fundamental file manipulation commands used across three major
operating systems: Mac, Windows, and Unix/Linux. Understanding these commands is crucial
for anyone working in IT or software development because file management lies at the core of
every system operation. While the syntax and tools may differ among platforms, the underlying
functions such as creating, moving, copying, and deleting files remain consistent. Through this
exercise, I compared their command structures, reflected on my preferred schema, and related
these concepts to real workplace scenarios.
Comparison of File Manipulation Commands
While studying the readings and experimenting with different systems, I realized that Mac and
Unix share similar command-line environments since macOS is built on a Unix foundation.
Commands like ls for listing files, cp for copying, mv for moving, and rm for removing files are
standard across both systems (Shotts, 2019). In contrast, Windows uses its Command Prompt or
PowerShell, which relies on commands such as dir, copy, move, and del (KomalSrivastava,
2021). For example, the Unix command ls -l lists files in long format, while the equivalent in
Windows would be dir.
I also learned that both macOS and Linux allow command chaining and scripting using shells
like Bash or Zsh (ninad, 2022). This enables automation through shell scripts, which can execute
multiple file operations efficiently. In comparison, Windows PowerShell also supports scripting
but uses a different syntax, such as Get-ChildItem instead of ls. The Bash scripting examples
from Ahmed (2020) demonstrated how powerful shell scripts can be for repetitive tasks like file
organization or data backup.
An interesting difference I noticed is in network-related file operations. Linux provides utilities
like curl and wget for downloading files directly from the internet, which are extremely useful
for system administrators and developers (McKay, 2022). Windows has similar functionality
through PowerShell’s Invoke-WebRequest, but it’s not as straightforward for beginners.
Overall, while all three systems enable file manipulation effectively, Unix-based systems offer
greater flexibility and control for advanced users.
Preferred Schema and Reasoning
Personally, I prefer the Unix/Linux schema because of its simplicity, consistency, and
scriptability. The command-line interface in Linux feels more logical and powerful, especially
when handling multiple tasks. For instance, combining commands like ls | grep ".txt"
allows me to filter specific file types instantly. Additionally, shell scripting in Linux enables
automation that can save significant time in real-world scenarios.
Another reason I prefer Unix commands is their relevance in professional environments. Most
web servers, cloud systems, and DevOps pipelines operate on Linux-based infrastructures.
Knowing commands like chmod for permission management or tar for archiving is an essential
skill for system administrators and developers (Shotts, 2019). In my opinion, once you
understand the logic of Unix commands, transitioning to other systems becomes much easier.
Use of File Manipulation Commands in the Workplace
At my workplace, or in most professional IT environments, file manipulation through the
command line is often used for automation and efficiency. For example, in a data management
setting, Bash scripts can automatically organize daily reports by date and file type. A simple
script using mv and mkdir can move all .csv files into a “Reports” directory each morning.
Even in Windows-based organizations, PowerShell scripts are frequently used to manage files
across multiple systems. For instance, a PowerShell command like Get-ChildItem -Recurse |
Remove-Item can delete temporary log files from several directories, saving manual effort.
Based on my research, these kinds of automation scripts are vital in reducing human error and
improving productivity (Wilson, 2019; KomalSrivastava, 2021).
Conclusion
Through this learning activity, I gained a deeper understanding of how different operating
systems approach file manipulation. While Windows commands are more user-friendly for
beginners, Unix and Mac provide more powerful and flexible tools for professionals. Among the
three, I prefer Unix/Linux because of its efficiency and wide industry usage. Learning to use
commands like cp, mv, and rm, and creating simple automation scripts, not only enhances
productivity but also develops a stronger technical foundation for system-level operations.
Overall, this topic has strengthened my confidence in handling files across diverse platforms and
highlighted the importance of mastering the command line in today’s technology-driven
workplaces.
References:
Ahmed, H. (2020, September 2). 25 bash script examples. FOSS Linux.
https://www.fosslinux.com/42541/bash-script-examples.htm
KomalSrivastava@TWC. (2021, June 8). Useful commands to manage files and folders through
CMD in Windows 11/10. TheWindowsClub. https://www.thewindowsclub.com/useful-
commands-to-manage-files-and-folders-through-cmd-in-windows
McKay, D. (2022, December 16). Curl vs. wget in Linux: What’s the difference? How-To Geek.
https://www.howtogeek.com
ninad. (2022, August 3). What are the different types of shells in Linux? DigitalOcean.
https://www.digitalocean.com
Shotts, W. (2019). The Linux command line (5th ed., pp. 25–41). No Starch Press.
Wilson, C. (2019, August 27). Bash cheat sheet: Top 25 commands and creating custom
commands. Educative. https://www.educative.io
