Basic Unix Commands
clear resets the display if it gets messed up.
history shows commands you recently entered.
man display help for specified command.
cd change working directory. cd ../.. goes up two folders.
ls list files/directories. -lrt lists most recent files last.
cp a b copy file from location a to location b. Use cp -a for directories.
mv a b move file from location a to location b
rm delete file
rmdir delete empty directory
mkdir create new directory
cat print file contents to standard output.
echo print specified character string to standard output.
ps u CPU/memory usage info for active processes.
kill kill process with PID
find find . -name "*.txt" searches files in directory
<up> arrow key: scroll thru command history
chmod change file access permissions
ssh remote login
rsync remote copy. rsync -avP folder host:
python python interpreter (Ctrl+D, ^d, to quit)
exit close shell/subshell/logout
vim open Vi IMproved editor (see below).
> redirect standard output into new file.
>! redirect and overwrite previous file.
>> append existing file with standard output.
>& redirect standard output and any errors.
^c kill active foreground process.
& perform process in background.
Vi Editor Commands (must be in command mode)
vim file opens text file in Vi editor
i enter insert mode so you can type at cursor
esc escape key returns from insert mode to command mode so you can navigate
h move cursor left; nh 'n' spaces left
j cursor down
k cursor up
l cursor right
I insert at begin of line
A append at end of line
R enter replace mode to type over existing text
O open new line before cursor
o open new line after cursor
. repeats previous command
u undo previous command
^r redo previous command
^f page down
^b page up
G goto end of file
nG goto line 'n'
0 goto line beginning
$ goto end of line
x deletes character
dd delete an entire line
ndd deletes 'n' lines
d$ delete til end of line
yy yank 1 line
nyy yank 'n' lines
P put yanked lines before cursor
p put yanked lines after cursor
~ change case of character
:w save work
:w file2 writes to a new file
:wq save and quit Vi (returns to Unix shell)
:q! quit Vi without saving
/x search for string 'x' (n or N cycles forward/backward between matches)
:set wrap display wraps long lines to fit into window
:syntax on enables syntax highlighting
:set hlsearch highlight all search matches
:set ruler shows line/character number of cursor
:set showmode display insert/command mode
Installation for Mac Users
Apple computers with Mac OS X are based on the Unix operating system so basic Unix commands and the vim program will already be available when you open Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app
Installation for Windows Users
Check that your computer has a 64-bit CPU and download the appropriate installer file setup.exe for your cpu architecture at www.cygwin.com.
Do NOT select every Unix package available in cygwin. Select only the packages specified in the Tutorial 1 instructions before starting the download/install.
Programming Languages
Command syntax Detailed syntax notes from Dr. Hills: C shell, awk, Vi, Python, C++, alphabetical list of Unix commands, etc.