Bash Guide for Beginners - Glossary

This section contains an alphabetical overview of common UNIX commands. More information about the usage can be found in the man or info pages.

A

Common UNIX commands, A

a2ps	Format files for printing on a PostScript printer.
acroread	PDF viewer.
adduser	Create a new user or update default new user information.
alias	Create a shell alias for a command.
anacron	Execute commands periodically, does not assume continuously running machine.
apropos	Search the whatis database for strings.
apt-get	APT package handling utility.
aspell	Spell checker.
at, atq, atrm	Queue, examine or delete jobs for later execution.
aumix	Adjust audio mixer.
(g)awk	Pattern scanning and processing language.

B

Common UNIX commands, B

bash	Bourne Again SHell.
batch	Queue, examine or delete jobs for later execution.
bg	Run a job in the background.
bitmap	Bitmap editor and converter utilities for the X window System.
bzip2	A block-sorting file compressor.

C

Common UNIX commands, C

cat	Concatenate files and print to standard output.
cd	Change directory.
cdp/cdplay	An interactive text-mode program for controlling and playing audio CD Roms under Linux.
cdparanoia	An audio CD reading utility which includes extra data verification features.
cdrecord	Record a CD-R.
chattr	Change file attributes.
chgrp	Change group ownership.
chkconfig	Update or query run level information for system services.
chmod	Change file access permissions.
chown	Change file owner and group.
compress	Compress files.
cp	Copy files and directories.
crontab	Maintain crontab files.
csh	Open a C shell.
cut	Remove sections from each line of file(s).

D

Common UNIX commands, D

date	Print or set system date and time.
dd	Convert and copy a file (disk dump).
df	Report file system disk usage.
dhcpcd	DHCP client daemon.
diff	Find differences between two files.
dig	Send domain name query packets to name servers.
dmesg	Print or control the kernel ring buffer.
du	Estimate file space usage.

E

Common UNIX commands, E

echo	Display a line of text.
ediff	Diff to English translator.
egrep	Extended grep.
eject	Unmount and eject removable media.
emacs	Start the Emacs editor.
exec	Invoke subprocess(es).
exit	Exit current shell.
export	Add function(s) to the shell environment.

F

Common UNIX commands, F

fax2ps	Convert a TIFF facsimile to PostScript.
fdformat	Format floppy disk.
fdisk	Partition table manipulator for Linux.
fetchmail	Fetch mail from a POP, IMAP, ETRN or ODMR-capable server.
fg	Bring a job in the foreground.
file	Determine file type.
find	Find files.
formail	Mail (re)formatter.
fortune	Print a random, hopefully interesting adage.
ftp	Transfer files (unsafe unless anonymous account is used!)services.

G

Common UNIX commands, G

galeon	Graphical web browser.
gdm	Gnome Display Manager.
(min/a)getty	Control console devices.
gimp	Image manipulation program.
grep	Print lines matching a pattern.
grub	The grub shell.
gv	A PostScript and PDF viewer.
gzip	Compress or expand files.

H

Common UNIX commands, H

halt	Stop the system.
head	Output the first part of files.
help	Display help on a shell built-in command.
host	DNS lookup utility.
httpd	Apache hypertext transfer protocol server.

I

Common UNIX commands, I

id	Print real and effective UIDs and GIDs.
ifconfig	Configure network interface or show configuration.
info	Read Info documents.
init	Process control initialization.
iostat	Display I/O statistics.
ip	Display/change network interface status.
ipchains	IP firewall administration.
iptables	IP packet filter administration.

J

Common UNIX commands, J

jar	Java archive tool.
jobs	List backgrounded tasks.

K

Common UNIX commands, K

kdm	Desktop manager for KDE.
kill(all)	Terminate process(es).
ksh	Open a Korn shell.

L

Common UNIX commands, L

ldapmodify	Modify an LDAP entry.
ldapsearch	LDAP search tool.
less	more with features.
lilo	Linux boot loader.
links	Text mode WWW browser.
ln	Make links between files.
loadkeys	Load keyboard translation tables.
locate	Find files.
logout	Close current shell.
lp	Send requests to the LP print service.
lpc	Line printer control program.
lpq	Print spool queue examination program.
lpr	Offline print.
lprm	Remove print requests.
ls	List directory content.
lynx	Text mode WWW browser.

M

Common UNIX commands, M

mail	Send and receive mail.
man	Read man pages.
mcopy	Copy MSDOS files to/from Unix.
mdir	Display an MSDOS directory.
memusage	Display memory usage.
memusagestat	Display memory usage statistics.
mesg	Control write access to your terminal.
mformat	Add an MSDOS file system to a low-level formatted floppy disk.
mkbootdisk	Creates a stand-alone boot floppy for the running system.
mkdir	Create directory.
mkisofs	Create a hybrid ISO9660 filesystem.
more	Filter for displaying text one screen at the time.
mount	Mount a file system or display information about mounted file systems.
mozilla	Web browser.
mt	Control magnetic tape drive operation.
mtr	Network diagnostic tool.
mv	Rename files.

N

Common UNIX commands, N

named	Internet domain name server.
ncftp	Browser program for ftp services (insecure!).
netstat	Print network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and multi-cast memberships.
nfsstat	Print statistics about networked file systems.
nice	Run a program with modified scheduling priority.
nmap	Network exploration tool and security scanner.
ntsysv	Simple interface for configuring run levels.

P

Common UNIX commands, P

passwd	Change password.
pdf2ps	Ghostscript PDF to PostScript translator.
perl	Practical Extraction and Report Language.
pg	Page through text output.
ping	Send echo request to a host.
pr	Convert text files for printing.
printenv	Print all or part of environment.
procmail	Autonomous mail processor.
ps	Report process status.
pstree	Display a tree of processes.
pwd	Print present working directory.

Q

Common UNIX commands, Q

quota

Display disk usage and limits.

R

Common UNIX commands, R

rcp	Remote copy (unsafe!)
rdesktop	Remote Desktop Protocol client.
reboot	Stop and restart the system.
renice	Alter priority of a running process.
rlogin	Remote login (telnet, insecure!).
rm	Remove a file.
rmdir	Remove a directory.
rpm	RPM Package Manager.
rsh	Remote shell (insecure!).

S

Common UNIX commands, S

scp	Secure remote copy.
screen	Screen manager with VT100 emulation.
set	Display, set or change variable.
setterm	Set terminal attributes.
sftp	Secure (encrypted) ftp.
sh	Open a standard shell.
shutdown	Bring the system down.
sleep	Wait for a given period.
slocate	Security Enhanced version of the GNU Locate.
slrnn	text mode Usenet client.
snort	Network intrusion detection tool.
sort	Sort lines of text files.
ssh	Secure shell.
ssh-keygen	Authentication key generation.
stty	Change and print terminal line settings.
su	Switch user.

T

Common UNIX commands, T

tac	Concatenate and print files in reverse.
tail	Output the last part of files.
talk	Talk to a user.
tar	Archiving utility.
tcsh	Open a Turbo C shell.
telnet	User interface to the TELNET protocol (insecure!).
tex	Text formatting and typesetting.
time	Time a simple command or give resource usage.
tin	News reading program.
top	Display top CPU processes.
touch	Change file timestamps.
traceroute	Print the route packets take to network host.
tripwire	A file integrity checker for UNIX systems.
twm	Tab Window Manager for the X Window System.

U

Common UNIX commands, U

ulimit	Controll resources.
umask	Set user file creation mask.
umount	Unmount a file system.
uncompress	Decompress compressed files.
uniq	Remove duplicate lines from a sorted file.
Kernel daemon to flush dirty buffers back to disk.
uptime	Display system uptime and average load.
userdel	Delete a user account and related files.

V

Common UNIX commands, V

vi(m)	Start the vi (improved) editor.
vimtutor	The Vim tutor.
vmstat	Report virtual memory statistics.

W

Common UNIX commands, W

w	Show who is logged on and what they are doing.
wall	Send a message to everybody's terminal.
wc	Print the number of bytes, words and lines in files.
which	Shows the full path of (shell) commands.
who	Show who is logged on.
whoami	Print effective user ID.
whois	Query a whois or nicname database.
write	Send a message to another user.

X

Common UNIX commands, S

xauth	X authority file utility.
xcdroast	Graphical front end to cdrecord.
xclock	Analog/digital clock for X.
xconsole	Monitor system console messages with X.
xdm	X Display Manager with support for XDMCP, host chooser.
xdvi	DVI viewer.
xfs	X font server.
xhost	Server access control program for X
xinetd	The extended Internet services daemon.
xload	System load average display for X.
xlsfonts	Server font list displayer for X.
xmms	Audio player for X.
xpdf	PDF viewer.
Terminal emulator for X.

Z

Common UNIX commands, S

zcat	Compress or expand files.
zgrep	Search possibly compressed files for a regular expression.
zmore	Filter for viewing compressed text.