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1. Cheat Sheet Linux Terminal

1.1 Resource

1.1.1 Online

1.1.2 Download

1.2 Bash Commands

Command Line Explanation
uname -a Show system and kernel
head -n1 /etc/issue Show distri-bution
mount Show mounted filesy-stems
date Show system date
uptime Show uptime
whoami Show your username
man_command_ Show manual for_command_

1.3 Bash Shortcuts

Command Line Explanation
CTRL-c Stop current command
CTRL-z Sleep program
CTRL-a Go to start of line
CTRL-e Go to end of line
CTRL-u Cut from start of line
CTRL-k Cut to end of line
CTRL-r Search history
!! Repeat last command
!abc Run last command starting with_abc_
!abc:p Print last command starting with_abc_
!$ Last argument of previous command
ALT-. Last argument of previous command
!* All arguments of previous command
abc--123 Run previous command, replacing_abc_with_123_

1.4 Bash Variables

Command Line Explanation
env Show environment variables
echo_$NAME_ Output value of_$NAME_variable
export_NAME_=value Set_$NAME_to_value_
$PATH Executable search path
$HOME Home directory
$SHELL Current shell

1.5 IO Redirection

Command Line Explanation
cmd < file Input of cmd from file
cmd1 < cmd2 Output of cmd2 as file input to cmd1
cmd > file Standard output (stdout) of cmd to file
cmd Discard stdout of cmd
cmd >> file Append stdout to file
cmd 2> file Error output (stderr) of cmd to file
cmd >&2 stdout to same place as stderr
cmd 2>&1 stderr to same place as stdout
cmd &> file Every output of cmd to file

1.6 Pipes

Command Line Explanation
cmd1 | cmd2 stdout of cmd1 to cmd2
cmd1 |& cmd2 stderr of cmd1 to cmd2

1.7 Command Lists

Command Line Explanation
cmd1 ; cmd2 Run cmd1 then cmd2
cmd1 && cmd2 Run cmd2 if cmd1 is successful
cmd1 || cmd2 Run cmd2 if cmd1 is not successful
cmd Run cmd in a subshell

1.8 Directory Operations

Command Line Explanation
pwd Show current directory
mkdir_dir_ Make directory_dir_
cd_dir_ Change directory to_dir_
cd .. Go up a directory
ls List files

1.9 ls Options

Command Line Explanation
-a Show all (including hidden)
-R Recursive list
-r Reverse order
-t Sort by last modified
-S Sort by file size
-l Long listing format
-1 One file per line
-m Comma-----separated output
-Q Quoted output

1.10 Search Files

Command Line Explanation
grep pattern files Search for pattern in files
grep -i Case insens-itive search
grep -r Recursive search
grep -v Inverted search
grep -o Show matched part of file only
find /dir/ -name name* Find files starting with name in dir
find /dir/ -user name Find files owned by name in dir
find /dir/ -mmin num Find files modifed less than num minutes ago in dir
whereis command Find binary / source / manual for command
locate file Find file (quick search of system index)

1.11 File Operations

Command Line Explanation
touch file1 Create file1
cat file1 file2 Concat-enate files and output
less file1 View and paginate file1
file file1 Get type of file1
cp file1 file2 Copy file1 to file2
mv file1 file2 Move file1 to file2
rm file1 Delete file1
head file1 Show first 10 lines of file1
tail file1 Show last 10 lines of file1
tail -f file1 Output last lines of file1 as it changes

1.12 Process Management

Command Line Explanation
ps Show snapshot of processes
top Show real time processes
kill_pid_ Kill process with id_pid_
pkill_name_ Kill process with name_name_
killall_name_ Kill all processes with names beginning_name_

1.13 Nano Shortcuts

1.13.1 Files

Command Line Explanation
Ctrl-R Read file
Ctrl-O Save file
Ctrl-X Close file

1.13.2 Images

Command Line Explanation
ALT-A Start marking text
CTRL-K Cut marked text or line
CTRL-U Paste text
Command Line Explanation
ALT-/ End of file
CTRL-A Beginning of line
CTRL-E End of line
CTRL-C Show line number
CTRL-_ Go to line number

1.13.4 Search File

Command Line Explanation
CTRL-W Find
ALT-W Find next
CTRL-\ Search and replace

1.14 Screen Shortcuts

Command Line Explanation
screen Start a screen session.
screen -r Resume a screen session.
screen -list Show your current screen sessions.
CTRL-A Activate commands for screen.
CTRL-A c Create a new instance of terminal.
CTRL-A n Go to the next instance of terminal.
CTRL-A p Go to the previous instance of terminal.
CTRL-A " Show current instances of terminals.
CTRL-A A Rename the current instance.

1.15 File Permissions

Command Line Explanation
4 read ®
2 write (w)
1 execute (x)
chmod 644 file Change mode of file torw-r--r--
chmod -R 750 folder Recursively chmod folder and contents torwxr-x--
chown usr:grp file Change file owner to usr, and group to grp
Last update: 2024-02-12
Created: 2024-01-30