Unix

(Updated 2011 Oct 16)

Basic Unix Commands

The basics:

• • commands are generally of the form: command -optional_flags argument(s)

  • for more information on any command, type: man command_name

  • examples are denoted with open bullets

  • cd -- change directory

    • • cd tmp_directory -- changes to directory named tmp_directory

      • cd demo/img -- equivalent to cd demo followed by cd img

      • cd -- go to own home directory

      • cd ~phodis -- go to phodis's home directory

      • cd .. -- changes to directory one level up

  • cp -- copy

    • • cp file1 file2 -- copies file1 to file2

      • cp stuff* tmp_directory/ -- copies files starting with stuff to directory tmp_directory

  • df -- disk free

    • • df -- shows status of all accessible disks

      • df . -- shows status of the disk you're on

      • df /usr50 -- shows status of disk named /usr50

  • du -- disk usage

    • • du -- shows, in blocks, usage of current directory and all subdirectories

      • du -k -- shows, in kilobytes, usage of current directory and all subdirectories

  • gzip/gunzip -- compresses/uncompresses files

    • • gzip *.mrc -- compresses files ending with .txt

      • gunzip *.mrc.gz -- uncompresses gzipped files

  • jot -- a bare-bones text editor (on SGIs)

    • • jot list.txt -- opens list.txt and creates it if it doesn't exist

  • lpq -- show printer queue

    • • lpq -Prose4 -- shows queue for printer named rose4

  • lpr -- send file to printer

    • • lpr -Prose4 *.txt -- prints all files ending in .txt to printer rose4

  • ls -- list directory

    • • ls -- lists current directory

      • ls tmp -- lists file or subdirectory named tmp

      • ls *.txt -- lists files ending with .txt

      • ls -l -- lists long format, including files size, date modified, file protection, etc.

      • ls -t -- lists files in chronological order, most recent files first

      • ls -S -- lists files in order of size, largest first

      • ls -r -- lists files in reverse order

      • ls -F -- appends filetype indicators (e.g., executable, link, etc.)

        • • I usually alias ls to this, and to override it, add --indicator-style=none

      • ls -ltr -- lists files in long format in reverse chronological order

  • mkdir -- make directory

    • • mkdir tmp_directory -- creates directory branching from current directory

  • more -- looks at a file, generally a text file

    • • more list.txt -- outputs contents of list.txt to the screen

  • mv -- move/rename

    • • mv file1 tmp_directory/ -- moves file1 to directory tmp_directory

      • mv file1 file2 -- renames file1 to file2

  • pwd -- print working directory

  • rm -- remove/delete

    • • rm list.txt -- deletes the file list.txt

      • rm *.txt -- deletes all files in directory ending in '.txt' (be careful with this one)

      • rm -r tmp_directory -- removes directory tmp_directory and its contents

  • which -- finds directory location of accessible executables

    • • which xv -- would give the response: /sware/xv/xv

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