Question: Very new to Linux, but I thought I understood file exploration from the command line.

**The problem:**
I can't figure out how to navigate my files or directories, the console isn't displaying any feedback when I type "ls" or "pwd" or "cd". Example:

```
tyler@ip-172-31-13-165:~$ cd /home/tyler
tyler@ip-172-31-13-165:~$ ls
tyler@ip-172-31-13-165:~$ ls /home/tyler

```

It's not showing me anything! How do I know what directories exist?

**what I've done so far:**
I have recently created a Ubuntu 14.04.1 micro instance with AWS, which I'll be using to practice webapp deployment. I am connecting to the instance via puTTy on Windows 7. I created a new user: tyler with sudo privileges, as follows:

**What I want:**
I want some way to explore the files/directories I've created/that have been created for me using the command line (I don't want to rely on a GUI).

Answer: 
No, the `ls` command does not work differently on server editions of Ubuntu. 

What *does* work differently is that, by default, user creation on the server additions does not include populating the new user's home directory with folders such as `Desktop` (because there isn't one), `Pictures` and so on. So `ls` is simply telling you that there are currently no ordinary (non-hidden) files or directories within your home directory. If you want to see *hidden* files and directories, add the `-A` or `-a` flags e.g.

```
ls -A

```

See `man ls`

```
   -a, --all
          do not ignore entries starting with .

   -A, --almost-all
          do not list implied . and ..

```
As alternative, `tree` command gives you more complex information regarding directories in tree view.

Install it with `sudo apt-get install tree`
and try to type `tree /`