Linux Cheat Sheet

pwd

print working directory

ls [options] [file ...]

list directory contents; options:

• -a don't ignore names that begin with a dot
• -l list in long format
• -S sort by size, largest first
• -t sort by time modified, most recent first
• -r reverse sort order

cd [dir]

change working directory; shortcuts:

• . current directory
• .. parent directory
• ~ your home directory
• ~user user's home directory

mkdir directory ...

make directories

mv source target

rename source to target

mv source ... directory

relocate each source into directory.

cp [options] source ... target

copy each source into target

cp [options] source ... target

copy each source into target

rm [options] file ...

remove each file; options:

• -d remove empty directories
• -r remove files and directories recursively
• -f do not prompt for confirmation, DANGEROUS

cat [file ...]

concatenate each file and print to screen

head [-N] [file ...]

display first N (default 10) lines of each file

tail [-N] [file ...]

display last N (default 10) lines of each file

date

display date and time

whoami

show your user id

uptime

show system uptime and load

history

show your recent commands

To type C-a, hold Control while typing A.

To type M-a, hold Alt while typing A,
or tap Escape then type A.

these are essentially the same keybindings as those of Emacs.
• C-a jump to beginning of line
• C-e jump to end of line
• C-k delete to end of line
• C-u delete to start of line
• C-w delete previous word
• C-y insert last deleted text
• C-r interactively search previous commands
• C-c interrupt current command
• C-z suspend current command (resume with fg)
• C-d delete character forward; or, end of input
• M-d delete word forward
• ↑ or C-p previous line entered
• ↓ or C-n next line entered
• ← or C-b backwards character
• → or C-f forwards character

• !! repeat last command
• TAB or C-i complete word
• TABTAB list possible completions