# Basic Linux Commands ## 1. Navigation and File Management: ### a) pwd (Print Working Directory) - Shows the current directory path - Usage: pwd ### b) ls (List) - Lists files and directories in the current directory - Common options: -l: Long format with details -a: Show hidden files -h: Human-readable file sizes - Usage: ls [options] [directory] ### c) cd (Change Directory) - Changes the current directory - Usage: cd [directory] cd .. (move up one directory) cd ~ (go to home directory) ### d) mkdir (Make Directory) - Creates a new directory - Usage: mkdir [directory_name] ### e) rmdir (Remove Directory) - Removes an empty directory - Usage: rmdir [directory_name] ### f) touch - Creates an empty file or updates timestamps - Usage: touch [filename] ### g) cp (Copy) - Copies files or directories - Usage: cp [source] [destination] - Options: -r: Recursive (for directories) ### h) mv (Move) - Moves or renames files and directories - Usage: mv [source] [destination] ### i) rm (Remove) - Deletes files or directories - Usage: rm [options] [file/directory] - Options: -r: Recursive (for directories) -f: Force deletion without prompting ## 2. File Viewing and Editing: ### a) cat (Concatenate) - Displays file contents - Usage: cat [filename] ### b) less - Views file contents page by page - Usage: less [filename] ### c) head - Displays the first few lines of a file - Usage: head [options] [filename] - Options: -n [number]: Specify number of lines ### d) tail - Displays the last few lines of a file - Usage: tail [options] [filename] - Options: -n [number]: Specify number of lines -f: Follow file updates in real-time ### e) nano - Simple text editor - Usage: nano [filename] ## 3. File Permissions and Ownership: ### a) chmod (Change Mode) - Modifies file permissions - Usage: chmod [options] [mode] [file/directory] - Example: chmod 755 file.txt ### b) chown (Change Owner) - Changes file ownership - Usage: chown [user]:[group] [file/directory] ## 4. System Information: ### a) uname - Displays system information - Usage: uname [options] - Options: -a: All information ### b) df (Disk Free) - Shows disk space usage - Usage: df [options] - Options: -h: Human-readable sizes ### c) du (Disk Usage) - Estimates file and directory space usage - Usage: du [options] [directory] - Options: -h: Human-readable sizes -s: Summary for directory ## 5. Process Management: ### a) ps (Process Status) - Lists running processes - Usage: ps [options] - Common options: aux: Detailed information for all processes ### b) top - Displays real-time system process information - Usage: top ### c) kill - Terminates processes - Usage: kill [options] [PID] - Options: -9: Force kill ## 6. Network Commands: ### a) ping - Tests network connectivity - Usage: ping [options] [destination] ### b) ifconfig - Displays network interface information - Usage: ifconfig ### c) ssh (Secure Shell) - Connects to remote systems securely - Usage: ssh [user]@[host] ## 7. Package Management (for Debian-based systems): ### a) apt-get update - Updates package lists - Usage: sudo apt-get update ### b) apt-get upgrade - Upgrades installed packages - Usage: sudo apt-get upgrade ### c) apt-get install - Installs new packages - Usage: sudo apt-get install [package_name] ## 8. File Compression: ### a) tar - Archives files - Usage: tar [options] [archive_name] [files/directories] - Common options: -c: Create archive -x: Extract archive -v: Verbose -f: Specify archive file - Example: tar -cvf archive.tar files/ ### b) gzip - Compresses files - Usage: gzip [filename] ### c) gunzip - Decompresses gzip files - Usage: gunzip [filename.gz] - [(1) The beginner’s guide to using terminal on Linux Mint - FOSS Linux.](https://www.fosslinux.com/103546/the-beginners-guide-to-using-terminal-on-linux-mint.htm.) - [(2) Official User Guide - Linux Mint.](https://www.linuxmint.com/documentation/user-guide/Cinnamon/english_18.0.pdf.) - [(3) BEGINNER'S GUIDE FOR LINUX - Start Learning Linux in Minutes - Tecmint.](https://www.tecmint.com/free-online-linux-learning-guide-for-beginners/.) - [(4) Useful Basic Terminal Commands On Linux Mint 11 - HowtoForge.](https://www.howtoforge.com/useful-basic-terminal-commands-on-linux-mint-11.)