Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
MIND BLOWING SUPER COOL LINUX COMMANDS
NOTE: YouTube won't allow the angled brackets that represent "greater than" and "less than" to be posted in the description text. I have indicated their use in the commends below but you'll have to replace them yourself. :)
CREATE A TEXT FILE WITHOUT USING AN EDITOR
cat (greater than) myfile.txt
-- Creates small text file. Use Ctrl+D to send text to file.
cat (two greater than) myfile.txt
-- Appends lines to bottom of pre-existing file.
NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM BY PUTTING DIRECTORIES ON A STACK
pushd /directory
-- Moves to new directory.
popd
-- brigs you back to original directory
USE RANGES IN A COMMAND
mkdir test{01..10}
-- Creates 10 numbered directories.
RESET RESERVED EXT4 SPACE TO 1%:
tune2fs -m 1 /dev/(partition)
Ex. sudo tune2fs -m 1 /dev/sda1
GET INFO FROM A COMMAND IN REAL TIME
watch (command)
Ex. watch free -h
OPEN NEW ROOT BASH ENVIRONMENT
sudo bash OR sudo -s
-- Use "exit" to return to your own shell.
USE WGET TO DOWNLOAD FILES FROM THE INTERNET
wget dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
-- Downloads Google Chrome installer package into the current directory.
HIDE YOUR CURSOR
tput civis
-- Hides cursor.
tput cnorm
-- Brings cursor back.
FIX A TERMINAL THAT'S GONE CRAZY
. .profile
-- Reloads your environment.
reset
-- resets the terminal completely.
FIND A COMMAND IN HISTORY
Ctrl+R
-- Activates history search: Start typing to search for text.
Pressing enter without typing will exit search.
STRING COMMANDS TOGETHER AT PROMT AS THEY WOULD RUN IN A SCRIPT
command 1; command 2; command 3; ...
-- Runs one command after another regardless of any command's exit code.
command 1 && command 2 && command 3 && ...
-- Only runs the next command if the one before it exits without an error.
command 1 || command 2 || command 3 || ...
__ Only runs the next command if the one before it exits with an error
AUTOMATICALLY LOOK FOR AND INSTALL PACKAGES IN A SCRIPT
dpkg -l | grep -qw gdebi || sudo apt-get install -yyq gdebi
-- Install gdebi package if it is not already installed.
THROW UNWANTED OUTPUT IN THE BIT BUCKET
command (greater than) /dev/null 2(greater than)&1
--Sends both stdout and stderr data to oblivion.
SHUTDOWN YOUR COMPUTER AT A LATER TIME
shutdown -h 90
--Shuts down the computer in 90 minutes.
shutdown -h 23:30
--Shuts down the computer at 11:30 PM.
MIND BLOWING SUPER COOL LINUX COMMANDS
NOTE: YouTube won't allow the angled brackets that represent "greater than" and "less than" to be posted in the description text. I have indicated their use in the commends below but you'll have to replace them yourself. :)
CREATE A TEXT FILE WITHOUT USING AN EDITOR
cat (greater than) myfile.txt
-- Creates small text file. Use Ctrl+D to send text to file.
cat (two greater than) myfile.txt
-- Appends lines to bottom of pre-existing file.
NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM BY PUTTING DIRECTORIES ON A STACK
pushd /directory
-- Moves to new directory.
popd
-- brigs you back to original directory
USE RANGES IN A COMMAND
mkdir test{01..10}
-- Creates 10 numbered directories.
RESET RESERVED EXT4 SPACE TO 1%:
tune2fs -m 1 /dev/(partition)
Ex. sudo tune2fs -m 1 /dev/sda1
GET INFO FROM A COMMAND IN REAL TIME
watch (command)
Ex. watch free -h
OPEN NEW ROOT BASH ENVIRONMENT
sudo bash OR sudo -s
-- Use "exit" to return to your own shell.
USE WGET TO DOWNLOAD FILES FROM THE INTERNET
wget dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
-- Downloads Google Chrome installer package into the current directory.
HIDE YOUR CURSOR
tput civis
-- Hides cursor.
tput cnorm
-- Brings cursor back.
FIX A TERMINAL THAT'S GONE CRAZY
. .profile
-- Reloads your environment.
reset
-- resets the terminal completely.
FIND A COMMAND IN HISTORY
Ctrl+R
-- Activates history search: Start typing to search for text.
Pressing enter without typing will exit search.
STRING COMMANDS TOGETHER AT PROMT AS THEY WOULD RUN IN A SCRIPT
command 1; command 2; command 3; ...
-- Runs one command after another regardless of any command's exit code.
command 1 && command 2 && command 3 && ...
-- Only runs the next command if the one before it exits without an error.
command 1 || command 2 || command 3 || ...
__ Only runs the next command if the one before it exits with an error
AUTOMATICALLY LOOK FOR AND INSTALL PACKAGES IN A SCRIPT
dpkg -l | grep -qw gdebi || sudo apt-get install -yyq gdebi
-- Install gdebi package if it is not already installed.
THROW UNWANTED OUTPUT IN THE BIT BUCKET
command (greater than) /dev/null 2(greater than)&1
--Sends both stdout and stderr data to oblivion.
SHUTDOWN YOUR COMPUTER AT A LATER TIME
shutdown -h 90
--Shuts down the computer in 90 minutes.
shutdown -h 23:30
--Shuts down the computer at 11:30 PM.
