Useful terminal commands and shortcuts (Linux::Ubuntu)

linux-terminal-commands.md

Useful terminal commands and shortcuts (Linux::Ubuntu)

Commands

• sudo apt-get install <pkg name> install package
• sudo apt-get remove <pkg name> remove package
• apt list | grep <txt to search> search currently installed packages
• xkill kill an unresponsive window w. mouse
• touch to create file, mkdir to create dir
• rm to delete file, rmdir to delete dir
  • rm -rf <path> recursively deletes dir and suppresses warning (can be dangerious. rm -rf / would delete everything. use with caution)
• ls (list), ll (list w. details)
• man <cmd name> show manual page
• subl <path> open in sublime
• irb interactive ruby shell; type exit to exit (Ctrl + C does nothing)
• <many commands> followed by -h or --help or -? show version of that command/program
• git commit -a -m "<commit message>" add all to staging and then commit
• sudo reboot restart computer
• pwd print working directory, i.e. path of current dir in file system
• cat <file path> | xclip copy contents of trg to clipboard
• nautilus <path> open in graphical file explorer
• wget -qO- <url> | less print HTTP response to terminal (paginated with less)
• subl ~/.aliases edit list of aliases
  • alias pag="less -RS#3NM~g +Gg"
  • alias ip-public="curl ipinfo.io/ip"
• alias | less print all aliases
• export VARNAME=value set environment variable
• unset VARNAME delete environment variable
• printenv | less print all environment variables
• curl <url> > <new file path> create new file from response to HTTP request to given URL
• git reset HEAD^ revert last commit and put changes back into staging
  • git reset --hard HEAD^ revert last commit and discard changes
• systemctl suspend suspend/sleep computer
• history show history of other commands entered into terminal
  • history -<num> only show last num commands

Keyboard shortcuts

• Ctrl + Shift + + increase font size
• Ctrl + - decrease font size
• Ctrl + C stop execution
• Ctrl + Shift + C or Ctrl + Ins copy
• Ctrl + Shift + V or Shift + Ins paste
• Ctrl + Shift + T new tab
• Ctrl + Shift + W close tab
• Ctrl + PgUp and Ctrl + PgDn move between tabs
• Ctrl + Shift + Up and Ctrl + Shift + Down move up/down
• Shift + PgUp and Shift + PgDn page up/down

One-time setup

• sudo apt-get install fonts-arphic-ukai fonts-arphic-uming fonts-ipafont-mincho fonts-ipafont-gothic fonts-unfonts-core install CJK fonts
• Create a swap file
• gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad click-method areas Enable right click (disabled by default in ubuntu 18.04)
• xmodmap -pke > ~/keymaptable, then sudo subl /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc Change key bindings