This manual describes the various AmigaDOS, and its commands. The Command Line Interpreter (CLI) reads AmigaDOS commands typed into a CLI window and translates them into actions performed by the computer. In this sense, the CLI is similar to more "traditional" computer interfaces: you type in commands and the interface displays text in return.

Because the Workbench interface is sufficient and friendly for most users the Workbench diskettes are shipped with the CLI interface "disabled". To use the commands in this manual you must "enable" the CLI interface. This puts a new icon, labeled "cli" on your Workbench. When you have selected and opened this icon, a CLI window becomes available, and you can use it to issue text commands directly to AmigaDOS.