DevOps Academy – Day 2: Understanding Linux Paths and File Permissions

Today, I continued my DevOps learning journey by exploring Linux navigation and file permissions.

The session started with understanding the difference between absolute paths and relative paths. An absolute path always begins from the root directory (/), while a relative path depends on the current working directory. Although the concept seemed simple at first, but then I realized how important it is when working on servers and navigating large file systems.

I also practiced moving around the filesystem using commands such as cd, cd .., cd ~, and cd -. totally felt that these commands make navigating the terminal much faster once you become familiar with them.

Another key topic learned was Linux file permissions. Using ls -l, I learned how to interpret the permission string and identify the owner, group, and permission levels assigned to a file.

I then used chmod to modify permissions, including making a shell script executable with chmod +x. Seeing the permission string change after running the command made the concept much clearer.

The biggest lesson from today is that Linux security is built around clear ownership and permission rules. Understanding these basics is essential because they affect everything from running scripts to deploying applications in production environments.

I'm looking forward to building on this foundation as I continue learning Linux, Docker, cloud technologies, and the broader DevOps ecosystem.