Linux command cheat sheet

A list of commands commonly used in Linux.

Starting common programs

• To start a terminal window:
  • Right-click with the mouse anywhere on the screen, and select "New terminal" from the menu.
  • Click on the icon in the taskbar on the bottom of the screen that looks like a black screen.
  • Click on the "Main menu" button (the "hat" icon) on the taskbar, go to "System Tools" and click on "Terminal".
• To start NEdit:
  • Type nedit in any terminal window
  • Click on the big "N" icon in the taskbar.

Directories

• pwd : prints the name of the directory you are currently in
• ls : lists the contents of the current directory
• cd foo : change to the directory named "foo"
• mkdir foo : create a new directory named "foo"
• rmdir foo : remove the directory named "foo". NOTE: this permanently removes the directory, so use with care!

Shortcuts:

• cd by itself returns you to your home directory
• cd .. changes to the directory directly above the current one (the "parent" directory)

Files

• more foo.txt : displays the contents of the file named "foo.txt"
• rm foo.txt : removes the file named "foo.txt". NOTE: this permanently removes the file, so use with care!
• cp foo.txt foo1.txt : copies the file "foo.txt" into the file "foo1.txt". Preserves the original file.
• mv foo.txt foo2.txt : moves the file "foo.txt" into the file "foo2.txt". Removes the original file.

Getting help

• man foo : displays a help ("manual" page) for the command "foo", if one exists.

Miscellaneous

• hsp foo.txt cs117 : submits the file "foo.txt" via the homework submission program (hsp) to the cs117 folder.
• hsp -h : help for the hsp program.
• hsp -c cs117 : checks what files you have submitted via hsp.
• Typing "&" after any command puts the command in the "background". This allows you to run more than one program at a time out of the same terminal window....so, for instance, you can edit your Java program and compile it in the same window. For example: nedit & opens NEdit in the background.
• nedit foo.txt opens the file "foo.txt" in an NEdit window.
• Hitting the up arrow while in a terminal window will show you the previous command you typed. Hitting the up arrow several times shows the past few commands you've typed in that window.

Java commands

• javac Foo.java : compiles the program "Foo.java"
• java Foo : runs the Java program contained in the file "Foo.class"

Last updated by Amy Csizmar Dalal (email: adalal at carleton dot edu), Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Carleton College, on Tue Sep 14 13:03:04 2004