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Favorite Unix Commands

clippy.in

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Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#111
post #62

It took me a moment to figure out what was going on there (with the whole clippy thing). The bulk of this list is the top commands from commandlinefu which has been on HN before [0], [1]. You can even go meta and install a command to let you search commandlinefu [2]. [0] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=527486 [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3843373 [2] http://samirahmed.github.com/fu/

I have a suspicion that it's actually a kind of targeted example-advertisement for the clippy thingo ;) and did somewhat work for me actually, I do now feel interested in learning more about the site

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#112
post #27

Please comment if you have a favorite not on this list.

tsort. It's pointless until you need it, but when you need it, it's totally awesome . less. Overkill, but SO MUCH BETTER THAN tail -f. Seriously. You can toggle "follow mode" without losing your place in the incoming stream.

I prefer:-

    tail --follow=filename
to:

    tail -f filename
The former will spot inode changes and reopen the filename if the file wraps (or has something else done to it to change its inode). The latter will just sit there seeing no new input in such cases.

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#113
post #44
post #7

I forgot about the DNS querying of wikipedia. Probably could've used that to entertain myself on my flights over the holidays since I'm pretty sure gogo inflight passes DNS through. Anyway, I'm a big fan of piping things into xargs. xxd is a terminal-based hex editor. It can convert both to and from hex to binary. I also use 'pgrep -lf 'partial_program_name' a lot in place of 'ps aux | grep partial_program_name'. 'pk…

If they allow DNS out you can use their Internet for free via iodine: http://code.kryo.se/iodine/ I run an iodine server for myself, you can get free Internet at quite a few loginpage WiFi routers with it in airports, cafes etc.

ssssssh ! When proxying over DNS becomes mainstream, it'll be shutdown !!

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#114

Ctrl+l is my most used command. I need a clean terminal

Same here; and love that it doesn't clear the command line you're currently typing. Does anyone know if there's a key command for clearing the scroll buffer?

Does anybody know if there is a command for creating an infinite stream of the character "y" + carriage return ?

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#115
I like the wikipedia DNS text lookup - I work in a "firewalled" environment where the unices are only allowed DNS queries. If only wikipedia could provide central switchboard numbers in their text fields as well ...

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#116

I have never understood the love for `sudo !!`. I think `ctrl+pa sudo ` is faster, explicit, and more versatile.

I disagree. I think typing one more command "sudo !!" is much easier and straight-forward than doing

1. Ctrl+p. Go to the previous line in bash history.

2. Ctrl+a. Go to the beginning of the new line.

3. Type "sudo ". While you're typing your whole commandline shifts around as well.

The latter mixes history commands, navigation commands and also modifies a previous command instead of just typing a new 7-letter command. It's also more in terms of keystrokes (though just barely).

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#118
esc-#, comments the current line

ctrl-\, kills current process even xtail

xtail, tails dirs

tweaks in .inputrc to have up and down arrow do backward history search, like in ipython.

Re: Favorite Unix Commands

#119

I have never understood the love for `sudo !!`. I think `ctrl+pa sudo ` is faster, explicit, and more versatile.

I disagree. I think typing one more command "sudo !!" is much easier and straight-forward than doing 1. Ctrl+p. Go to the previous line in bash history. 2. Ctrl+a. Go to the beginning of the new line. 3. Type "sudo ". While you're typing your whole commandline shifts around as well. The latter mixes history commands, navigation commands and also modifies a previous command instead of just typing a new 7-letter comman…

You know writing out their function does not make them longer. ;) I agree with the parent because my left pinky is always on capsLock (my ctrl; I swapped caps with ctrl) so a ctrol ap is far easier than to go to shift + 1 twice(to type !). Again, this can be different in other keyboards/setups.
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