Linux Command Line Basics: Essential Commands Every Developer Should Know

Introduction

The Linux command line is a powerful tool that can significantly boost your productivity as a developer or system administrator. Whether you're working with servers, managing files, or automating tasks, knowing these essential commands is crucial.

Essential Commands

File Navigation

• pwd: Print working directory
• ls: List directory contents
• cd: Change directory
• mkdir: Create directory
• rm: Remove files/directories

File Operations

• cp: Copy files
• mv: Move/rename files
• cat: Display file contents
• grep: Search text in files
• find: Search for files

Text Processing

• head: Display first lines of a file
• tail: Display last lines of a file
• sort: Sort lines of text
• uniq: Remove duplicate lines
• wc: Count words, lines, characters

System Information

• ps: List running processes
• top: Display running processes
• df: Display disk space usage
• free: Display memory usage
• uname: System information

Tips for Productivity

1. Use Tab Completion: Press Tab to auto-complete commands and file names
2. Command History: Use arrow keys to navigate previous commands
3. Aliases: Create shortcuts for frequently used commands
4. Pipes: Chain commands together using |
5. Redirects: Save output to files using > and >>

Conclusion

Mastering the Linux command line takes practice, but these essential commands will get you started. Join our Linux System Administration course to dive deeper into advanced topics and real-world scenarios.