Linux Command-Line Tips & Tricks
Take your knowledge of the Linux Bash shell beyond the basics
There’s no excuse not to school yourself in the ways of Linux command-line operations. Whether you’re accessing the Terminal on your Linux desktop, logged directly into the Bash shell, or intrigued by Windows 10’s support for CLI-based Linux distros, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to assume you know the basics of Linux’s Bash shell and command language. As a quick reminder, Bash uses a relatively straightforward syntax for each command:
$ utility command -option The utility portion of the command is the tool you wish to run, such as ls for listing the contents of a directory, or apt-get for triggering the package management tool.
The command section is where you specify exactly what you want the utility to do. Typing apt-get install instructs the package management utility to install the named package, such as:
$ apt-get install vlc
The -option section is where one or more “flags” can be set to specify preferences. Each flag is preceded by one or two dashes, and the most useful is the --help option, which gives a description of the utility, plus available commands and options. Utilities can be run on their own, with a single command or flag, or as a combination of the two.
With this basic framework in place, you’re ready to start exploring how you can interact with Linux via the command line – for Windows users, this introduces the intriguing possibility of being able to run Linux CLI apps and services on your PC without installing a virtual machine or dual-boot setup.
In this feature, we’re going to look at some more advanced uses of the Bash shell, from the practical (work with permissions and interrogating your hardware) to the more whimsical – surf the net directly from the shell, plus play music, and have some fun with ASCII art into the bargain. In between, you’ll learn various tips and tricks to speed things up. Enough chit-chat, it’s time to paddle into the slightly deeper waters of more advanced Terminal usage. Don’t worry, the water’s still warm….