Alphabetized List of Unix Commands

This section contains an alphabetized list of common Unix commands which could be useful as a review and reference.  

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UNIX COMMANDS

^ c

INTERRUPT program ([Del] in System V).

^ d

END text input (also logoff).

^ h

BACKSPACE.

^ r

REPEAT last line typed (or !!).

^ q

Unlock terminal screen.

^ s

Stop the screen from scrolling.

^ u

UNDO last line typed.

^ w

Delete last WORD typed.

^ z

SUSPEND a running program.

as file.s

Assemble program in file.s.

at prog

Run prog at a later time.

batch prog

Run prog in BATCH queue (sequential bg).

bg

Place stopped foreground job into BACKGROUND.

cat fileA > fileB

COPY fileA to fileB.

cat fileA >> fileB

APPEND fileA to end of fileB (add to end).

cat file

LIST file on screen (or where > or >> directs).

cc file.c

COMPILE C program in file.c.

cd dirname

CHANGE to dirname; default home, .. 1 up.

chmod code file

Change file's access restrictions.

cp oldfile newfile

COPY oldfile to newfile.

dbx prog

Run DEBUGGER on executable prog.

diff file1 file2

List lines DIFFERING in file1, file2.

f77 file.f

Fortran 77 compile.

fg job #

Place background job into FOREGROUND.

file fname

Determine fname's type.

grep pat fname

Look for pat in file fname.

head file

Print first 10 lines of file.

jobs

Return names and job # of suspended jobs.

kill -9 pid #

Cancel job with pid # (known from ps).

ld file.o or file.a

LOAD, LINK, program in file.o, file.a.

lint file.c

Check C program in file.c.

lp fname

Print fname on LINE PRINTER (System V).

lpq

Return status of jobs in print queue (BSD).

lpr file

Print file on LINE PRINTER (BSD).

lprm numb

Remove numb from print queue (BSD).

lpstat

Return status of jobs in print queue (System V).

ls

LIST files in present directory.

ls -l

A long list of files.

ls dirname

List files in dirname, default .,

-l long, -x list, -CF coded, -a invisibles.

mkdir dirname

Make directory dirname.

more file

List file, one screenful at a time.

mv oldfile newfile

MOVE oldfile to newfile, then remove oldfile.

pc file.p

Compile Pascal programs in file.p.

ps -a

Return name and process ID's of all current processes.

ps -fu user

List processes owned by user (System V).

pwd

Print working directory.

rm oldfile

REMOVE (erase) oldfile.

rm -rf directory

Remove directory and everything in it.

rmdir dirname

Remove directory dirname.

sort fname

SORT lines of fname based on options.

spell fname

Check fname for SPELLING.

tail file

Print file's last 10 lines on screen.

view file

Use the vi editor for VIEWING a file.

wc fname

COUNT number of ``words'' in fname.

who (w)

List current users.

who am i (whoami)

Return my login name.