8 Unique Linux Commands You Probably Haven’t Tried Yet

Here’s a look at eight lesser-known Linux commands that can enhance your command line experience. Each of these commands serves a unique function and can be quite useful in various scenarios.

Check for Command Availability

Before diving into the specific commands, it’s prudent to check if the commands discussed below are installed on your system. Run the following command in your terminal:

for cmd in yes shuf column pv tldr stat namei rev; do which $cmd; done

If installed, you’ll see the file locations; if not, it will indicate "no command in (PATH)."

1. The yes Command

The yes command is simple yet powerful. It outputs the string "yes" (or any string you choose) repeatedly until terminated. This can be particularly useful for scripting when you need to automate responses to prompts:

yes | scriptname

2. The shuf Command

The shuf command randomizes the lines in a specified file. This can be useful for sampling data or creating randomized outputs for testing:

shuf staff

3. The column Command

The column command formats text into columns, improving readability. It’s very handy for displaying lists or tables of data neatly. For example:

cat staff | column

4. The pv Command

pv (pipe viewer) allows you to visualize the progress of data through a pipe. This can be useful when dealing with large files, as it shows you progress and speed:

pv largefile.zip | tar xzf -

5. The tldr Command

The tldr command offers simplified man pages with practical examples, easing command usage for beginners:

tldr date

6. The stat Command

stat provides comprehensive details about a file, including access times and more than what ls -l offers:

stat staff

7. The namei Command

The namei command breaks down pathnames to display each component directory clearly, which is useful in understanding where a file resides:

namei -lx /usr/bin

8. The rev Command

The rev command reverses strings line by line, which can be useful for various text manipulation tasks:

echo Hello, World! | rev

Conclusion

Incorporating these commands into your workflow can improve your efficiency and expand your command line skills. Whether for data manipulation, file management, or just for fun, there’s always something new to discover in the Linux command line.