Linux is a powerful and flexible operating system used by many professionals around the globe. Understanding basic Linux commands is essential for managing systems and performing various daily tasks. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive cheat sheet of Linux commands to help you speed up your work and enhance your efficiency as a Linux user.

Why is a Linux Commands Cheat Sheet Important?

A cheat sheet is a useful tool for anyone who wants to quickly remember commands without having to search through documentation. With the right cheat sheet, you can:

• Increase productivity: Reduce the time spent searching for commands.
• Learn faster: Gain a better understanding of frequently used commands.
• Boost confidence: Use Linux commands more easily and fearlessly.

Basics of Linux Commands – linux commands cheat sheet

Here are some essential categories of commands you should know:

1. File and Directory Navigation

• pwd – Print the current working directory.
• ls – List files and directories.
  • ls -l – List files in long format (detailed view).
  • ls -a – List all files, including hidden files.
• cd [directory] – Change to a specified directory.
  • cd .. – Move up one directory level.
  • cd ~ – Change to the home directory.
• mkdir [directory_name] – Create a new directory.
• rmdir [directory_name] – Remove an empty directory.
• tree – Display a tree structure of directories.

2. File Management

• touch [file_name] – Create a new empty file.
• cp [source] [destination] – Copy files or directories.
  • cp -r [source_directory] [destination_directory] – Copy directories recursively.
• mv [source] [destination] – Move or rename files or directories.
• rm [file_name] – Remove a file.
  • rm -r [directory_name] – Remove a directory and its contents.
• cat [file_name] – Display the contents of a file.
• head [file_name] – Display the first few lines of a file.
• tail [file_name] – Display the last few lines of a file.
• nano [file_name] or vim [file_name] – Open a file in a text editor.

3. Searching and Filtering

• grep [pattern] [file] – Search for a specific pattern in a file.
  • grep -i [pattern] [file] – Case-insensitive search.
  • grep -r [pattern] [directory] – Recursively search in a directory.
• find [directory] -name [filename] – Search for files in a directory.
• locate [filename] – Quickly find files by name.
• diff [file1] [file2] – Compare two files line by line.

4. File Permissions

• chmod [permissions] [file_name] – Change file permissions.
  • Example: chmod 755 [file_name] for read, write, and execute for owner; read and execute for group and others.
• chown [user]:[group] [file_name] – Change the owner and group of a file.
• ls -l – Show file permissions and ownership.

5. System Information

• top – Display active processes and system resource usage.
• htop – Interactive process viewer (requires installation).
• df -h – Show disk space usage in human-readable format.
• free -m – Display memory usage.
• uname -a – Display system information, including kernel version.
• uptime – Show how long the system has been running.

6. Networking Commands

• ping [hostname] – Check the connectivity to a host.
• ifconfig or ip addr – Display network configuration.
• curl [URL] – Transfer data from or to a server.
• wget [URL] – Download files from the web.
• netstat -tuln – Show network connections and listening ports.
• traceroute [hostname] – Trace the route packets take to a network host.

7. Package Management (Debian-based)

• sudo apt update – Update the package list.
• sudo apt upgrade – Upgrade installed packages.
• sudo apt install [package_name] – Install a package.
• sudo apt remove [package_name] – Remove a package.
• dpkg -l – List installed packages.

8. Package Management (Red Hat-Based)

• sudo yum update – Update the package list.
• sudo yum upgrade – Upgrade installed packages.
• sudo yum install [package_name] – Install a package.
• sudo yum remove [package_name] – Remove a package.
• rpm -qa – List all installed packages.
• yum search [package_name] – Search for a package in the repository.

9. Process Management

• ps aux – Display a snapshot of current processes.
• kill [PID] – Terminate a process by its Process ID (PID).
• pkill [process_name] – Kill processes by name.
• jobs – List background jobs.
• fg – Bring a background job to the foreground.

10. Disk Usage

• du -h [directory] – Display disk usage of a directory and its subdirectories.
• du -sh [directory] – Show the total disk usage of a directory.
• df -h – Show filesystem disk space usage.

11. User Management

• adduser [username] – Create a new user.
• deluser [username] – Delete a user.
• passwd [username] – Change the password for a user.
• groups [username] – Display the groups a user belongs to.

Conclusion

Having a Linux commands cheat sheet at your fingertips can make a significant difference in your productivity and confidence as a Linux user. Familiarize yourself with these commands, and consider printing this cheat sheet or saving it for quick reference. With practice, you’ll navigate the Linux environment with ease and become more adept at utilizing its powerful features.

Feel free to share this cheat sheet with others who might benefit from it! Happy computing!