Shell-it
Game to teach linux commands
Shell-it is an interactive game designed to help students learn Linux terminal commands in a fun and engaging way. Inspired by a text-based adventure, the game lets players navigate through London landmarks using cd commands, reinforcing real-world command-line skills. The objective is simple: players must travel to assigned destinations using correct cd syntax, all while following case-sensitive navigation rules and gradually increasing difficulty.
Client
London School of Economics and Political Science
Services
Game Development Visual & UI/UX Design Educational Technology & Gamification
Industries
Software Engineering
Date
January 2025
When LSE approached us with this project, they had a clear objective: to make learning Linux commands an interactive and memorable experience. They wanted students to truly understand how to navigate file systems using terminal commands rather than simply memorizing them. In the previous course runs, the students struggled to work with commands even until the end of the course. One of the key challenges was to ensure that the game enforced real Linux behaviors. Another challenge was to maintain engagement—if the game felt too rigid or repetitive, students might lose interest. We needed to strike a balance between enforcing correct syntax and keeping the gameplay dynamic and rewarding. Additionally, as students progressed, they needed to transition from simple, step-by-step navigation to more advanced, efficient command execution. This meant introducing a mechanic where, after visiting five landmarks, players would need to navigate in a single command rather than moving directory by directory.
One of the most significant outcomes was the game’s ability to keep players engaged. Instead of passively reading documentation or watching tutorials, students actively participated in the learning process. They explored, made mistakes, and corrected them—all in a risk-free, gamified environment. By the end of their journey, students had a deeper understanding of Linux terminal navigation, a skill that would serve them well in software development, cloud computing, and data science. Shell-it was more than just a game—it was a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making learning an adventure rather than a chore.