Skip to main content

Command Line Cheetsheet

SOME COMMON LINUX COMMANDS

tip: autocomplete the file or directory name by entering starting letter(s) then press tab

_________________________________________________________________________________

Control + Z   # Use these keys if you get hung-up & can't get back to the COMMAND PROMPT

pwd           # PRINT (to your screen) the current WORKING DIRECTORY
clear         # clears the screen by moving it up, does not delete
cd directory  # change the directory to a specific directory can use 
up arrow      # cycle through previous commands 
down arrow    # cycle back to more current commands and empty prompt (if you went back)
cd ..         # move up a directory
cd /          # move to the root directory
cd ~          # go to the home directory
cd            # cd without an argument will take you to the home directory
cd -          # go to the previous directory we just came from
cd ../..      # move up two directories
cd ~/.ssh     # move into the user directory with a specific subdirectory

ls            # list files and directories
ls -a         # list all files including hidden files
ls -l         # list long format
ls -la        # list all files and in long format
cp one two    # copy
mv            # move and rename
rm            # remove file (delete) NO UNDO FOR THIS!!! won't remove a directory
rm *.jpg      # remove all files ending in .jpg
rm -r         # remove recursively. Use this to delete directory and contents
mkdir         # make a directory
rmdir         # will only remove an empty directory use rm -r for directory with contents
cat           # see two or more files, or use it to
                just view one file (like our ssh public key)
|             # pipe command; runs more that one command at once

>             # used with the cat command to create one file out of two
                Example: cat file1 file2 > file3

EDITORS
_________________________________________________________________________________
vi or vim         #  vim command line editor
nano              # nano command line editor


more                     # see the link below
less                     # see the link below
head                     # see the link below
tail                     # see the link below

https://learnbyexample.gitbooks.io/command-line-text-processing/content/tail_less_cat_head.html