Linux Terminal Productivity: Work Smarter, Not Harder

# Complete command
$ fire<tab>
$ firefox

# Complete file
$ cat very_long_filename_th<tab>
$ cat very_long_filename_that_nobody_wants_to_type.txt

# Complete path
$ cd /usr/lo<tab>/bi<tab>
$ cd /usr/local/bin/

# Show all matches
$ ls te<tab><tab>
test.txt    template.sh    temp/

# Complete with wildcards
$ ls *.pd<tab>
report.pdf    notes.pdf    manual.pdf

# Complete variable
$ echo $PA<tab>
$ echo $PATH

# Reverse search (Ctrl+R)
(reverse-i-search): ssh
# Type to search, Enter to execute, Ctrl+R for next match

# Repeat last command
$ ls -la
$ !!  # Runs ls -la again

# Repeat with sudo
$ apt install package
Permission denied
$ sudo !!  # Runs sudo apt install package

# Reuse last argument
$ vim /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
$ sudo !!  # Didn't have permission
$ sudo vim !$  # Uses same file path

# Quick fix typo
$ cta file.txt
$ ^cta^cat  # Runs cat file.txt

# Search history
$ history | grep docker
  245  docker ps
  312  docker-compose up

# Jump to start/end
$ ls /very/long/path/to/somewhere<Ctrl+A>
# Now at start, add sudo
$ sudo ls /very/long/path/to/somewhere

# Cut and paste
$ echo wrong command here<Ctrl+U>
# Line cleared
$ <Ctrl+Y>
# Pasted back: wrong command here

# Fix command efficiently
$ docker ps -a --filter status=exited
# Oops, need sudo and different filter
<Ctrl+A>sudo <Ctrl+E><Ctrl+W><Ctrl+W>running

# Result: sudo docker ps -a --filter status=running

# Clear screen quickly
<Ctrl+L>  # Much faster than typing 'clear'

# Navigate words
$ git commit -m "Long message here"
                 ↑
# Alt+B to jump back words, Alt+F forward

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_aliases

# Common command shortcuts
alias ll='ls -lah'
alias la='ls -A'
alias l='ls -CF'
alias ..='cd ..'
alias ...='cd ../..'

# Safety aliases (confirm before dangerous operations)
alias rm='rm -i'
alias cp='cp -i'
alias mv='mv -i'

# Git shortcuts
alias gs='git status'
alias ga='git add'
alias gc='git commit'
alias gp='git push'
alias gl='git log --oneline --graph'

# Docker shortcuts
alias dps='docker ps'
alias dimg='docker images'
alias dstop='docker stop $(docker ps -q)'

# Function example: Make directory and cd into it
mkcd() {
    mkdir -p "$1" && cd "$1"
}

# Function: Find and kill process by name
killit() {
    ps aux | grep "$1" | grep -v grep | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill
}

# Activate aliases
$ source ~/.bashrc

# Pipe examples
$ ps aux | grep firefox
$ history | grep docker | tail -20
$ cat file.txt | grep error | wc -l
$ ls -1 | sort | uniq

# Command substitution
$ echo "Today is $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
$ vim $(find . -name "*.conf")
$ docker stop $(docker ps -q)
$ cd $(dirname $(which python))

# Logical operators
$ make && make test && make install
$ ./script.sh || echo "Script failed!"
$ mkdir project; cd project; git init

# Complex combinations
$ cat access.log | grep "404" | awk '{print $1}' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn
# Find most common IPs with 404 errors

$ for file in $(find . -name "*.txt"); do
    wc -l "$file"
done | sort -n
# Count lines in all .txt files, sorted

# Nested substitution
$ echo "You are in $(basename $(pwd))"

# Add to ~/.bashrc

# Increase history size dramatically
export HISTSIZE=10000
export HISTFILESIZE=20000

# Avoid duplicates and commands with leading space
export HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth:erasedups

# Ignore common commands
export HISTIGNORE="ls:ll:history:clear:exit"

# Add timestamps to history
export HISTTIMEFORMAT="%F %T "

# Append to history file, don't overwrite
shopt -s histappend

# Save multi-line commands as one entry
shopt -s cmdhist

# Using the configuration:
$ history
  245  2024-01-15 10:30:45 docker ps
  246  2024-01-15 10:31:12 git status

# Immediate history save
$ important-command
$ history -a  # Append to file immediately

# Private commands (start with space)
$  secret-command  # Won't be saved (notice leading space)

# AND operator - each depends on previous
$ mkdir project && cd project && git init && touch README.md
# Stops if any command fails

# OR operator - fallback behavior
$ ./preferred_editor file.txt || vim file.txt || nano file.txt
# Uses first available editor

# Combine AND and OR
$ make && make test || echo "Build or tests failed"

# Safe file operations
$ cp important.conf important.conf.backup && vim important.conf
# Only edit if backup succeeds

# Multiple commands with semicolon
$ date; whoami; pwd
# Runs all regardless of success

# Background processing
$ long_running_task.sh > output.log 2>&1 &
$ other_work.sh
$ fg  # Bring back when needed

# Grouped commands
$ { echo "Starting backup"; tar -czf backup.tar.gz /data; echo "Done"; } > backup.log

# Complex workflow
$ cd project && git pull && npm install && npm test && git push || {
    echo "Workflow failed at some step"
    git status
}

# Toggle between directories
$ cd /var/log
$ cd /etc/nginx
$ cd -  # Back to /var/log
$ cd -  # Back to /etc/nginx

# Directory stack
$ pushd /var/www
/var/www ~
$ pushd /etc/nginx
/etc/nginx /var/www ~
$ pushd ~/projects
~/projects /etc/nginx /var/www ~
$ dirs -v
0  ~/projects
1  /etc/nginx
2  /var/www
3  ~
$ popd  # Back to /etc/nginx
$ popd  # Back to /var/www

# CDPATH setup (add to ~/.bashrc)
export CDPATH=.:~:~/projects:~/work
$ cd myproject  # Works from any directory if ~/projects/myproject exists

# Bookmarks with variables
export LOGS=/var/log
export NGINX=/etc/nginx
export PROJ=~/projects/main
$ cd $LOGS
$ cd $NGINX

# Smart cd function
function cdl {
    cd "$1" && ls
}
$ cdl /etc  # Change and list in one command

# Screen workflow
$ screen -S mywork
# Do some work
# Connection drops or Ctrl+A, D to detach

# Later, from anywhere:
$ screen -ls
There is a screen on:
    1234.mywork    (Detached)
$ screen -r mywork
# Back in session with everything intact

# Tmux workflow
$ tmux new -s dev
# Ctrl+B, % to split vertically
# Ctrl+B, " to split horizontally
# Now you have multiple panes
# Ctrl+B, D to detach

# Reattach later
$ tmux ls
dev: 3 windows (created Mon Jan 15 10:30:45 2024)
$ tmux attach -t dev

# Create named windows
Ctrl+B, C  # New window
Ctrl+B, ,  # Rename window to "logs"
Ctrl+B, C  # Another window
Ctrl+B, ,  # Rename to "editor"
Ctrl+B, W  # Choose window from list

# Persistent server workflow
$ ssh server
server$ tmux new -s maintenance
server$ long_running_script.sh
# Ctrl+B, D
server$ exit
# SSH disconnected, script keeps running
$ ssh server
server$ tmux attach -s maintenance
# Back in session, script still running