Ubuntu is the most commonly used Linux distribution and we recommend you stick with Ubuntu for SEO. For example, Kali Linux is highly optimized for security penetration testing teams (security hackers).

You should know that as a major part of the open source community, Linux has been customized several times by groups of like-minded people into literally thousands of versions. It’s neat to see which Linux distributions Microsoft has chosen (including Kali!). If you are working with Windows you’ll want to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux and use a Linux terminal application.

The “bash” process is a program launched by default for the Mac terminal application and uses your keyboard input to run utilities and programs on your computer in the same sense as when people in the 1970s worked at terminal stations operating huge mainframe computers. When you want to close the window, it is wise ( but not critical) to type “exit” so that bash and other child processes close before the GUI window closes. If you’re working on a Mac, simply use Spotlight (command-spacebar) to search “terminal” and the top hit should be: terminal.app. In this installment of our series on programming for SEO, we’re going to open a terminal, navigate and explore your local computer, discover what resources you have, and determine what you are permitted to do in cases where your workstation is managed by someone else.

There’s a lot of power and much more to see when you’re working “under the hood” of your computer. While it’s true that you can access abundant resources through your operating system’s GUI, a terminal emulator window will provide you access to command line utilities including notably important network-centric ones for technical SEO and programming.

Mac terminal emulator for windows