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Super Handy Linux Command Tips That Will Transform Your Terminal Experience

· Linux, Terminal

Introduction

The Linux terminal is a remarkable tool that empowers users to interact with their systems in a powerful and efficient manner. Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a system administrator, or a curious enthusiast, mastering the art of the terminal can significantly boost your productivity and make your daily tasks smoother. In this guide, we’ll delve into a collection of 21 super handy Linux command tips that are poised to revolutionize your terminal experience and transform the way you work.

Commands for Daily Use

Autocompletion with Tab

Save valuable time by harnessing the power of the Tab key for autocompletion. When typing commands or file paths, simply press Tab to let the terminal automatically complete the rest or provide you with a list of possible options.

Press TAB

Switch Back to the Last Working Directory

Effortlessly navigate back to your previous working directory by typing cd -. This nifty shortcut is particularly useful when you’re shuffling between two directories.

cd -

Return to the Home Directory

Swiftly return to your home directory with the command cd ~. This is a quick way to jump back to your starting point.

cd ~

Run Multiple Commands in One Line

Combine multiple commands in a single line by using semicolons (;) to separate them. For example:

command1; command2; command3

Run Commands Sequentially

Execute commands sequentially using double ampersands (&&), ensuring that each subsequent command runs only if the previous one was successful:

command1 && command2

Jump to the Beginning or End of a Line

Move the cursor to the start of a line with Ctrl + A and to the end with Ctrl + E.

Press Ctrl + A
Press Ctrl + E

Interrupt a Command

Halt or cancel a running command by pressing Ctrl + C.

Press Ctrl + C

Cancel the Current Line

Erase the current line from the cursor to the beginning using Ctrl + U.

Press Ctrl + U

Delete the Part Before the Cursor

Eliminate the word before the cursor with Ctrl + W.

Press Ctrl + W

Paste from the Clipboard

To paste text from the clipboard, utilize Ctrl + Shift + V.

Press Ctrl + Shift + V

Quickly Clear the Terminal

Type clear to swiftly clear the terminal screen.

clear

Repeating the Previous Command

Recall and edit previous commands using the Up arrow key. Press Enter to execute.

arrow key (Up or down)

Repeating the Last Argument

Recall the last argument from the previous command with Alt + ..

Press Alt + .

Creating Directories and Parent Directories

Simplify directory creation by using mkdir -p to generate directories along with their parent directories.

mkdir -p /folder1/folder2/folder3/

Commands for Development

Recall Specific Arguments

Retrieve specific arguments from the previous command using Alt + 1, Alt + 2, and so on.

Alt + 1
Alt + 2
...

Use the Man Page

Access detailed information about a command by typing man command to open its manual page.

man chmod

Search History with Ctrl + R

Search through your command history by pressing Ctrl + R and typing your query.

Press Ctrl + R

Commands for Execution

Redirect Output to a File

Redirect command output to a file with > to overwrite the file if it exists:

cat overwrite_this > file.txt

Append Output to a File

Redirect command output and append it to a file using >>:

cat add_lines_here >> file.txt

For Debugging: Reading a Log File in Real Time

When troubleshooting and debugging, it’s often crucial to monitor log files in real time to gain insights into what’s happening within your application. The tail command with the -f option is an invaluable tool for this purpose.

Reading Logs in Real Time

To monitor a log file as it’s being updated, use the tail -f command followed by the path to the log file:

tail -f path_to_log

As new log entries are written to the file, they’ll be displayed in your terminal in real time. This is particularly useful for tracking events as they happen and identifying issues as they arise.

Filtering Relevant Information

Logs can often be verbose, containing a lot of information that might not be immediately relevant to your debugging efforts. You can enhance your log monitoring experience by combining tail -f

with the grep command to filter out specific lines based on search terms:

tail -f path_to_log | grep search_term

In this command, replace search_term with the keyword you’re looking for in the log entries. This will narrow down the displayed output to only show the lines containing the specified term.

Ensuring Persistent Monitoring

Sometimes, log files might be rotated or deleted as part of the application’s logging process. To ensure continuous monitoring even when the log file is deleted and recreated, you can use the -F option instead of -f:

tail -F path_to_log

With this option, tail will continue monitoring the file even if it’s removed and re-created, allowing you to maintain an uninterrupted view of the log data.

Conclusion

These Linux command tips are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to maximizing your terminal experience. As you become more comfortable with the terminal, you’ll uncover countless ways to streamline your tasks, automate processes, and become a more proficient and efficient Linux user.

References