A help guide using shell script for all major Linux commands

Introduction to Linux

Linux is a powerful, open-source operating system widely used for servers, desktops, and
embedded systems. It is known for its stability, security, and flexibility, making it a popular
choice among developers and system administrators. Unlike Windows or macOS, Linux is
built around the concept of a command-line interface (CLI), where users can interact with the
system by typing commands rather than using a graphical user interface (GUI).

Understanding the Linux commands

Linux commands are instructions that tell the operating system to perform specific tasks.
Commands can manipulate files, manage system processes, configure settings, and more.
Each command usually has its own set of options (also called flags) that modify its behaviour.

Structure of a command
command [options] [arguments]
1. ls
 Syntax: ls [options] [directory]
 Use: Lists files and directories in the specified directory. It can show hidden files
(using -a) and can provide detailed information (using -l).
 Example: ls -la
(lists all files, including hidden ones, in long format)

2. cd
 Syntax: cd [directory]
 Use: Changes the current working directory to the specified directory. Use cd .. to go
up one directory level.
 Example: cd msbte/it
(navigates to the Documents directory)

3. cp
 Syntax: cp [options] source destination
 Use: Copies files or directories. Use -r for recursive copying of directories.
 Example: cp a.txt copied.txt
(copies file.txt to the backup directory)
4. mv
 Syntax: mv [options] source destination
 Use: Moves or renames files and directories. Use -i for interactive mode, which
prompts before overwriting files.
 Example: mv a.txt b.txt
(renames oldname.txt to newname.txt)

5. rm
 Syntax: rm [options] file
 Use: Deletes files or directories. Use -r to remove directories and their contents
recursively, and -f to force deletion without prompts.
 Example: rm b.txt
(recursively and forcefully deletes foldername)

6. mkdir
 Syntax: mkdir [options] directory
 Use: Creates a new directory. Use -p to create parent directories as needed.
 Example:
mkdir ty
(creates a new folder named new_folder)
7. rmdir
 Syntax: rmdir [directory]
 Use: Removes an empty directory. If the directory contains files, it will not delete it.
 Example: rmdir ty
(removes an empty directory named empty_folder)

8. touch
 Syntax: touch filename
 Use: Creates a new empty file or updates the timestamp of an existing file.
 Example: touch a.txt
(creates a new file named newfile.txt)

9. cat
 Syntax: cat [options] file
 Use: Concatenates and displays the contents of files. It can also create new files by
redirecting output.
 Example: cat a.txt
(displays the contents of file.txt)
10. grep
 Syntax: grep [options] pattern [file]
 Use: Searches for a specified pattern within files. It supports regular expressions and
can display line numbers with -n.
 Example: grep 'hello' a.txt
(finds lines containing 'hello' in file.txt)

11. echo
 Syntax: echo [options] [string]
 Use: Displays a line of text or a variable value. It can be used for debugging or
displaying messages.
 Example: echo "Hello, World!"
(prints "Hello, World!" to the terminal)

12. pwd
 Syntax: pwd
 Use: Prints the current working directory path. Useful for confirming your current
location in the filesystem.
 Example: pwd
(outputs the full path of the current directory)
13. man
 Syntax: man [command]
 Use: Displays the manual page for a specified command, providing detailed
information about its usage and options.
 Example: man ls
(shows the manual for the ls command)

14. find
 Syntax: find [path] [options] [expression]
 Use: Searches for files and directories in a specified path. It supports various options
like searching by name, size, and modification time.
 Example: find msbte/it ".txt"
(finds all .txt files in the specified directory)

15. chmod
 Syntax: chmod [options] mode file
 Use: Changes the file permissions for a specified file or directory. Mode can be
specified in symbolic or octal format.
 Example: chmod 755 script.sh
(sets the permissions of script.sh to read, write, and execute for the owner, and read and
execute for others)
16. chown
 Syntax: chown [options] user[:group] file
 Use: Changes the ownership of a file or directory. You can specify both user and
group.
 Example: chown user:group file.txt (changes the owner and group of file.txt)

17. df
 Syntax: df [options]
 Use: Displays disk space usage for file systems. It shows total, used, and available
space.
 Example: df -h
(shows disk space in a human-readable format)

18. du
 Syntax: du [options] [directory]
 Use: Displays the disk usage of files and directories. It summarizes the space used.
 Example: du -sh a.txt
(shows the total disk usage of the user’s home directory)
19. tar
 Syntax: tar [options] archive-file file
 Use: Archives multiple files into a single file or extracts files from an archive.
Common options include -c (create), -x (extract), and -f (file).
 Example: tar -cvf archive.tar /path/to/files
(creates an archive named archive.tar)

20. wget
 Syntax: wget [options] [URL]
 Use: Downloads files from the web. It supports resuming downloads and
downloading recursively.
 Example: wget http://example.com/file.zip
(downloads file.zip from the specified URL)

21. curl
 Syntax: curl [options] [URL]
 Use: Transfers data from or to a server, supporting various protocols. It can be used to
interact with APIs.
 Example: curl -O http://example.com/file.zip
(downloads file.zip from the specified URL)
22. ping
 Syntax: ping [options] destination
 Use: Tests connectivity to a specified host by sending ICMP echo requests. It
measures round-trip time.
 Example: ping -c4 google.com
(checks connectivity to Google)

23. top
 Syntax: top
 Use: Displays a dynamic view of system processes, showing CPU and memory usage.
It updates in real-time.
 Example: top
(opens the interactive task manager)
24. history
 Syntax: history [n]
 Use: Displays a list of previously executed commands. The optional n limits the
output to the last n commands.
 Example: history
(shows all previous commands)

25. exit
 Syntax: exit [n]
 Use: Exits the current shell or terminal session. The optional n can specify an exit
status.
 Example: exit 0
(exits the shell with a status code of 0)
Conclusion:
Linux is a powerful operating system, and mastering basic commands like `ls`, `cd`, `cp`,
`mv`, and `rm` enables efficient file management, system navigation, and task automation.
These commands provide a foundation for advanced Linux usage, enhancing productivity in
development, system administration, or personal computing. Proficiency in these commands
unlocks the full potential of Linux, making it a valuable skill for users in various
environments.
References
1. The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction
2. Linux for Beginners
3. Linux: The Complete Reference