Bashcrawl Entrance: Your First Terminal Commands
Start Bashcrawl by using pwd, ls, cd, and cat to read the first scroll, collect the brass key, and enter the dungeon.
The dungeon gate groans open. Cool air pours out carrying the scent of ancient scrolls. This is where every hero begins — four commands, a brass key, and the courage to type.
🎯 Quest Objectives
- Print your current location with
pwd - List the dungeon entrance contents with
lsandls -F - Read the entrance scroll with
cat - Ask Merlin for a hint with the
merlincommand - Collect the brass key and move to the cellar
�️ Quest Prerequisites
- A terminal with Bash (macOS, Linux, or WSL)
- Bashcrawl installed or running at bamr87.github.io/bashcrawl
⚡ Command Cheatsheet
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
pwd |
Print working directory — shows where you are |
ls |
List directory contents |
ls -F |
List with type markers: / = dir, * = executable, @ = symlink |
cat file |
Print file contents to the terminal |
cd dir |
Change directory |
cd .. |
Go up one level |
merlin |
Ask the wizard for a context-aware hint |
quest |
Display current objectives |
🗺️ Walkthrough
Step 1 — Where am I?
pwd
# Output: /home/<user>/bashcrawl/ENTRANCE (or similar)
pwd always shows your absolute path. Use it whenever you feel lost.
Step 2 — What’s here?
ls
# Output: scroll cellar
ls -F
# Output: scroll cellar/
The trailing / after cellar tells you it is a directory (a doorway to the next chamber). scroll has no marker — it is a plain text file.
Step 3 — Read the scroll
cat scroll
The scroll contains the first piece of the dungeon’s story and a clue about the brass key. Read it carefully — items and hints mentioned here matter later.
Step 4 — Ask Merlin
merlin
Merlin reads your current location and delivers a context-sensitive hint. Whenever you are stuck, merlin is your first stop.
Step 5 — Check your objectives
quest
The quest log shows what you need to do in the current chamber.
Step 6 — Enter the cellar
cd cellar
pwd
# Output: .../ENTRANCE/cellar
Congratulations — you have left the entrance. Continue to the Cellar walkthrough or explore the Workshop first.
💡 Common Pitfalls
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
command not found: merlin |
Not in the game shell | Run ./main.sh --interactive first |
No such file: scroll |
Wrong directory | Run pwd; navigate to ENTRANCE with cd |
ls shows nothing |
Empty directory | Make sure you are in ENTRANCE, not / |
| Path has spaces | Rare edge case | Wrap in quotes: cd "my dir" |
✅ Validation
Before marking this side-quest complete, verify:
- You can explain what
pwdreturns without running it - You know the difference between
lsandls -F - You read the scroll and understand its clue
- You successfully navigated into cellar
➡️ Next Steps
You are now ready to explore deeper. Choose your path:
- Continue the main line → Cellar
- Side trip first → Workshop
- Back to hub → Bashcrawl Hub
📚 External Resources
Continue your terminal adventure with these resources:
- Bashcrawl Web Demo — Play in your browser, no installation required
- Bashcrawl on GitHub — Source code, setup, and open contributions
- GNU Bash Manual — Official Bash reference for heroes
- IT-Journey Bashcrawl Hub — Full quest series and walkthroughs
- The Linux Command Line — Free book covering every command you’ll meet
Four commands mastered. Hundreds to go. The dungeon opens before you. 🗝️
🕸️ Knowledge Graph
Structured wiki-links connect this quest to the IT-Journey knowledge graph. Open the Obsidian Graph View to explore connections.
Level hub: [[Level 0000 - Foundation & Init World]] Overworld: [[🏰 Overworld - Master Quest Map]] Unlocks: [[Bashcrawl Workshop: File Management Fundamentals]] · [[Bashcrawl Cellar: File Types, Aliases, and Emerald Amulet]] Sequel quests: [[Bashcrawl Workshop: File Management Fundamentals]] · [[Bashcrawl Cellar: File Types, Aliases, and Emerald Amulet]] Obsidian docs: [[Obsidian Knowledge Graph and Wiki Links]]
🎁 Rewards
🕸️ Quest Network
Referenced by
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