- Published on
Most Essential Terminal Commands Every Developer Should Know
- Authors
- Name
- Rakesh Tembhurne
- @tembhurnerakesh
Working with terminal commands is a crucial skill for developers. System administrators and IT experts might also benefit from it. In this blog article, we'll go over the most important terminal commands you need to know, address some often asked questions regarding Linux, and go over some entertaining commands you can use.
Table of Contents
- What are Terminal Commands?
- Commonly Used Terminal Commands
- Fun Linux Commands
- Learning Linux Commands and More
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Unix vs. Linux
- Linux Command Cheatsheet
- Conclusion
What are Terminal Commands?
Text-based commands used to interact with your computer's operating system are known as terminal commands or command-line interface (CLI) commands. These commands can be used to manage files, launch programmes, and modify system settings. Developers and system administrators frequently utilise the terminal to do work more quickly than by utilising a graphical user interface (GUI).
Commonly Used Terminal Commands
Here are some of the most commonly used terminal commands that you should be familiar with:
- Create a folder in Linux:
mkdir folder_name
- Install Chrome for Ubuntu:
sudo apt install google-chrome-stable
- Find command in Linux:
find /path/to/directory -iname "file_name"
- Chmod command in Linux:
chmod 755 file_or_directory
- Traceroute Linux:
traceroute example.com
- Linux directory commands:
ls
,cd
,pwd
,cp
,mv
,rm
- Ubuntu terminal commands:
apt-get
,dpkg
,apt-cache
,ifconfig
,wget
,curl
- Journalctl:
journalctl -u service_name
- Bash shell:
/bin/bash
- Linux version command:
uname -r
- Tee command:
command | tee output.txt
- Top command:
top
- Linux get IP address:
ip addr
- Zip in Linux:
zip -r output.zip folder_name
- Usermod command in Linux:
usermod -aG group_name user_name
- Dig command in Linux:
dig example.com
- Online bash shell: Visit repl.it or ideone
- Uptime command in Linux:
uptime
- Chmod 777 command in Linux:
chmod 777 file_or_directory
- Ipconfig Linux:
ifconfig
- Tar cvf:
tar cvf archive_name.tar folder_name
- Mv command:
mv source destination
- Linux list disks:
lsblk
- Clear bash history:
history -c
- Tar directory Linux example:
tar -czvf archive.tar.gz folder_name
- CentOS create user:
adduser username
- Chgrp command in Linux:
chgrp group_name file_or_directory
- Linux get hostname:
hostname
- Bc command in Linux:
bc
- Shell terminal:
bash
,sh
,zsh
,fish
- Run Python in terminal:
python script.py
- Chown syntax:
chown user:group file_or_directory
- Find recursive Linux:
find /path/to/directory -type f
- Linux create zip:
zip -r output.zip folder_name
- RedHat version command:
cat /etc/redhat-release
- Linux prompt:
$PS1
- Unix alias:
alias new_command='old_command'
- Delete files older than 7 days Linux:
find /path/to/directory -type f -mtime +7 -exec rm {} \;
- Linux passwd file:
/etc/passwd
- Open folder from terminal Mac:
open folder_name
- Current time Linux:
date
- Mac open terminal in current folder:
open -a Terminal "$(pwd)"
- Fuser command:
fuser file_or_directory
- Unix create directory:
mkdir directory_name
- Linux copy files from one directory to another:
cp -r source_directory/* destination_directory/
- Change shell Linux:
chsh -s /bin/bash
- Install Google Chrome Ubuntu terminal:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb && sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
- Make folder Linux:
mkdir folder_name
- Df Unix:
df -h
- Ip route command Linux:
ip route
- Git bash commands for Windows:
git init
,git add
,git commit
,git status
,git push
- Dos to Unix command:
dos2unix file_name
- Ubuntu terminal commands PDF:Download here
- Linux hacking commands:
nmap
,aircrack-ng
,wireshark
,metasploit
- Pass parameter to shell script:
./script.sh parameter1 parameter2
- Ubuntu mv command:
mv source destination
- Minicom commands:
minicom -s
,minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0
- Open cmd in Mac:
open -a Terminal "$(pwd)"
Fun Linux Commands
Here are some fun Linux commands that you can try out:
cowsay "Hello, World!"
fortune
sl
cmatrix
asciiquarium
To use these commands, you may need to install them first using your package manager (e.g., apt
, yum
, pacman
).
Learning Linux Commands and More
Learning Linux commands is easy with the right resources. You can start with online tutorials, books, and videos. Some popular resources include:
- Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible
- The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction
- Linux Journey
- Linux Command Library
You can also practice Linux commands using online bash shells like repl.it or ideone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the most commonly used terminal commands?
A: Some of the most commonly used terminal commands include ls
, cd
, pwd
, cp
, mv
, rm
, mkdir
, chmod
, chown
, find
, and grep
.
Q: What are terminal commands?
A: Terminal commands, also known as command-line interface (CLI) commands, are text-based instructions used to interact with your computer's operating system.
Q: What is Linux essential commands?
A: Linux essential commands are a set of commands that every Linux user should know. These commands include basic file and directory management, process management, and system configuration commands.
Q: What are the 5 command in Linux?
A: Five essential Linux commands include ls
, cd
, pwd
, cp
, and mv
.
Q: What is the best terminal for coding?
A: The best terminal for coding depends on your personal preferences and your operating system. Popular terminals include iTerm2 for macOS, GNOME Terminal for Linux, and Windows Terminal for Windows.
Q: What are 3 other commands in CMD?
A: In the Windows Command Prompt (CMD), three useful commands are dir
, copy
, and del
.
Q: What are basic Linux skills?
A: Basic Linux skills include navigating the file system, managing files and directories, using basic text editors, managing processes, and understanding permissions.
Q: What are 10 Linux commands you can use everyday?
A: Ten everyday Linux commands include ls
, cd
, pwd
, cp
, mv
, rm
, mkdir
, chmod
, grep
, and find
.
Q: Do I need to learn Linux commands?
A: Learning Linux commands is beneficial for developers, system administrators, and IT professionals. They can improve efficiency and provide more control over system tasks.
Q: Which Linux is most used?
A: Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and CentOS are some of the most widely used Linux distributions.
Q: What are some fun Linux commands?
A: Fun Linux commands include cowsay
, fortune
, sl
, cmatrix
, and asciiquarium
.
Q: How to list all Linux commands?
A: To list all Linux commands, you can type compgen -c
in your terminal.
Q: What is bash shell in Linux?
A: Bash (Bourne-Again SHell) is a popular Unix shell and command-line interpreter. It is the default shell in many Linux distributions and macOS.
Q: How to learn Linux commands easily?
A: You can learn Linux commands easily by practicing with online tutorials, books, and videos. Start with the basics and gradually progress to more advanced topics.
Q: What is shell in Linux?
A: A shell in Linux is a command-line interpreter that allows users to interact with the operating system by typing text-based commands.
Q: How many codes are in Linux?
A: Linux has thousands of commands, utilities, and programs. The exact number depends on the specific distribution and installed packages.
Q: What is \n in Linux?
A: In Linux, \n
is an escape sequence that represents a newline character. It is used in text files and programming languages to represent the end of a line.
Q: How to check last 100 commands in Linux?
A: To check the last 100 commands in Linux, type history | tail -n 100
in your terminal.
Q: How to check the last 5 logins in Linux?
A: To check the last 5 logins in Linux, type last -n 5
in your terminal.
Q: How to remove a directory in Linux?
A: To remove a directory in Linux, use the command rm -r directory_name
. This will delete the directory and its contents recursively.
Q: How do I see all terminal history?
A: To see all terminal history, type history
in your terminal. This will display a list of previously executed commands.
Q: How to use a terminal in Linux?
A: To use the terminal in Linux, open a terminal emulator application like GNOME Terminal, Konsole, or xterm. You can then type commands and execute them by pressing Enter.
Q: Are UNIX and Linux the same?
A: UNIX and Linux are similar but not the same. UNIX is a family of operating systems, while Linux is an operating system inspired by UNIX. Linux is considered a UNIX-like operating system.
Q: Is Linux easy or hard?
A: Learning Linux can be easy or hard depending on your background and experience with other operating systems. With the right resources and practice, most users find Linux easy to learn.
Q: Do I need Python for Linux?
A: Python is not required for Linux but is often installed by default on many Linux distributions. It is a versatile programming language that can be used for various tasks on Linux.
Q: Can I self-learn Linux?
A: Yes, you can self-learn Linux through online tutorials, books, and videos. Start with the basics and gradually progress to more advanced topics.
Q: How to open cmd in Linux?
A: To open a command prompt in Linux, open a terminal emulator application like GNOME Terminal, Konsole, or xterm.
Q: How do I run a code in the terminal?
A: To run a code in the terminal, navigate to the directory containing the code and type the appropriate command for the programming language. For example, use python script.py
to run a Python script.
Q: How do I open a file in the terminal?
A: To open a file in the terminal, use a text-based file editor like nano
, vim
, or emacs
. For example, type nano file_name
to open a file with the nano editor.
Unix vs. Linux
Linux and UNIX are separate operating systems with diverse histories, although having certain similarities.
The UNIX operating system family was created by AT&T Bell Laboratories in the 1970s. Currently, a number of businesses maintain their own UNIX versions, including IBM's AIX and Oracle's Solaris.
Contrarily, Linus Torvalds developed the open-source operating system Linux in the early 1990s. It is frequently referred to as a "UNIX-like" operating system because UNIX served as its inspiration. Many Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian, are available and well-liked by a sizable community.
Linux Command Cheatsheet
Here's a quick reference guide to essential Linux commands:
- File and directory management:
ls
,cd
,pwd
,cp
,mv
,rm
,mkdir
,rmdir
- File permissions and ownership:
chmod
,chown
,chgrp
- Text processing and search:
cat
,head
,tail
,more
,less
,grep
,sed
,awk
- System information:
uname
,hostname
,df
,du
,free
,top
,ps
,uptime
- Process management:
bg
,fg
,jobs
,kill
,pkill
,killall
- Network tools:
ifconfig
,ip
,ping
,traceroute
,netstat
,ssh
,scp
,curl
,wget
- Compression and archiving:
gzip
,gunzip
,bzip2
,tar
,zip
,unzip
- Package management (Debian-based):
apt-get
,apt-cache
,dpkg
- Package management (Red Hat-based):
yum
,rpm
- Package management (Arch-based):
pacman
- Users and groups:
useradd
,usermod
,userdel
,groupadd
,groupmod
,groupdel
,passwd
- Filesystem and disk management:
mount
,umount
,fsck
,fdisk
,parted
- Text editors:
nano
,vim
,emacs
- Programming languages and tools:
python
,perl
,ruby
,gcc
,make
,git
Conclusion
For programmers, system administrators, and IT specialists, Linux terminal commands are an effective tool. You can effectively manage files, directories, and processes as well as setup and troubleshoot your system if you have a firm grasp of the key commands. You'll develop your command-line abilities and your knowledge of Linux by practising and investigating new commands.
Remember that experimentation and practise are the best ways to learn Linux commands. Make use of the resources listed in this article to develop your command-line skills and continue learning Linux.