Here, I've put together some of the most used commands you'll use when working with Linux, in any flavour, in a neat cheat sheet.
Below, you'll find the commands in code-blocks as well as a nifty PDF that you can print off to hang on your wall and show off to all your friends! (if that's your thing)
File and Directory Commands
$ ls [ls -la] # List directory contents
$ cd [cd /var/log] # Change the current directory
$ pwd [pwd] # Print the current directory path
$ mkdir [mkdir new_folder] # Create a new directory
$ cp [cp file.txt /backup/] # Copy files or directories
$ mv [mv old.txt new.txt] # Move or rename files/ directories
$ rm [rm file.txt] # Deletes files or directories
$ touch [touch myfile.txt] # Create an empty file
$ find [find / -name '*.log'] # Search files in a directory tree
File Viewing and Text Processing
$ cat [cat file.txt] # Display file content
$ nano [nano config.cfg] # Simple terminal text editor
$ less [less file22.txt] # View file one page at a time
$ head [head -n 20 file.txt] # Show first X amount of lines
$ tail [tail log.txt] # Show last lines of file
$ grep [grep 'error' logfile.txt] # Search text patterns in files
$ sort [sort names.txt] # Sort lines in text
$ wc [wc file.txt] # Count lines, words, bytes
$ sed [sed 's/old/new/g'] # Find and replace in text
$ awk [awk '{print $1}' file.txt] # Pattern scanning and text processing
$ diff [diff file1.txt file2.txt] # Compare files line by line
System and Process Management
$ uname [uname -a] # Shows system information
$ whoami [whoami] # Displays current username
$ free [free -h] # Show memory usage
$ df [df -h] # Show disk space usage
$ du [du -sh *] # Estimate file space usage
$ ps [ps aux] # Display running processes
$ top [top] # Monitor processes and utilisation live
$ kill [kill -9 1234] # Terminate a process by ID
User/Permissions and Shell/Utilities
$ sudo [sudo apt update] # Run command as super user
$ passwd [passwd] # Change password
$ tar [tar -czvf file.tar.gz folder/] # Archive file
$ echo [echo $HOME] # Print text or variables
$ which [which python3] # Locate executable path
$ man [man grep] # Display command manual
$ alias [alias ll='ls -la'] # Create a command shortcut
If you feel additional commands would be handy to have here and help others, please let me know in the comments and I'll ensure to update it/ include an additional page in the PDF.
