UNIX Commands Cheat Sheet

UNIX – Basic GNU Bash (Shell) Commands

• cd directory name or path

  changes the current directory to that specified. The variable $HOME is the default directory. Typing cd by itself, with nothing following it, takes you to the highest directory; it is usually the same as typing cd $HOME.

• chmod numbers filename

  chmod 777 filename allows everyone to read, write, and execute the file.

• exit
• help command

  type the name of the command you want to understand

• ln –s pathToBeFound pathEasierToFind

  makes symbolic links (“symlinks”) between files

• logout
• ls

  lists all the files in the current directory

• ls –al filename

  “l” gives you the long listing so that you can see permissions. The r, w, and x specify the read, write, and execute access, respectively;
  “a” show all files, even those that are normally hidden.

• mkdir newDirectoryName

  makes a new directory with the name specified inside the directory where you currently are located.

• nano filename

  allows you to edit that file in a pine-like editing environment

• pwd

  tells you the path for the current directory

• rm filename

  removes a file

• rmdir directoryName

  removes a directory