Ionic's reliance on command-line-interface (CLI) tools is essential for starting, building, testing, and deploying apps, and the text offers a guide for using these tools across different operating systems—Mac, Windows, and Linux. Mac users can utilize the default terminal or opt for the more feature-rich iTerm 2, while Windows users are advised to install Git Bash for a more compatible experience, given that cmd.exe and PowerShell lack common utilities for modern development. Basic terminal commands such as `cd` for changing directories, `ls` for listing directory contents, and `sudo` for executing commands with administrator privileges are highlighted, along with the importance of using NPM for managing Node.js packages. Additional guidance is provided on using flags and arguments to modify command execution, with the goal of making developers more comfortable and effective in using the terminal, particularly for interacting with Ionic.