Linux is a popular open-source operating system that offers a wide range of commands users can utilize to perform various tasks efficiently. While most users are familiar with commonly used commands like ls, cd, pwd, and grep, there are many lesser-known commands that can be incredibly helpful in day-to-day operations. In this article, we will take a look at 51 useful lesser-known commands for Linux users.
1. ds – This command is used to display directory size.
2. df – Displays disk space usage.
3. du – Shows disk usage for files and directories.
4. ncdu – Enables interactive disk usage analysis.
5. tree – Displays directory tree structure.
6. stat – Provides detailed file information.
7. tac – Reverses the order of lines in a file.
8. nl – Adds line numbers to a file.
9. yes – Repeats a string.
10. split – Splits large files into smaller ones.
11. join – Joins lines of two files based on a common field.
12. unexpand – Converts spaces to tabs.
13. expand – Converts tabs to spaces.
14. xargs – Builds and executes command lines from standard input.
15. watch – Runs a command repeatedly.
16. script – Records a shell session.
17. shred – Securely deletes files.
18. echo – Prints a line of text.
19. tee – Redirects output to a file and standard output.
20. scriptreplay – Play back typescripts.
21. at – Executes a command at a specific time.
22. crontab – Schedules tasks to run at specific times.
23. remsync – Synchronizes files between two directories.
24. rev – Reverses the order of characters in a file.
25. paste – Merges lines from two files.
26. cal – Displays a calendar.
27. luck – Generates phrases similar to “fortune cookies.”
28. figlet – Creates ASCII art from text.
29. cowsay – Generates ASCII art of a cow with a speech bubble.
30. sl – Displays a steam locomotive running across the screen.
31. banner – Prints a large banner on the terminal.
32. xcowsay – Displays an animated talking cow on the screen.
33. acpi – Shows battery and power adapter information.
34. dmesg – Displays kernel messages.
35. pstree – Shows a tree of processes.
36. fuser – Identifies processes using a specific file or directory.
37. nmap – Scans networks and hosts for available services.
38. arp – Displays and modifies the ARP cache.
39. iptraf – Monitors network traffic.
40. ethtool – Displays and modifies Ethernet device settings.
41. lshw – Lists hardware information.
42. getent – Retrieves entries from databases like passwd, group, etc.
43. timeout – Runs a command with a time limit.
44. comm – Compares two sorted files line by line.
45. checkinstall – Installs software from source code.
46. last – Shows last logged-in users.
47. bzgrep – Searches compressed files for a pattern.
48. findmnt – Displays mounted filesystems.
49. tree – Lists files in a tree-like format.
50. pdftotext – Converts PDF files to text.
51. vimdiff – Shows differences between two files using Vim.
These lesser-known commands can be incredibly handy for Linux users looking to enhance their productivity and efficiency. Whether you are a seasoned Linux user or just getting started, exploring and mastering these commands can help you become more proficient in managing and navigating through the Linux environment.