Working at the shell prompt is an essential task for any Linux system administration. However many newcomers find it difficult to work at the bash prompt. Here are some tricks to speed up your work.
Essential bash keyboard shortcuts
CTRL-l : Clear the screen.
CTRL-r : To search for a command in command history. For example yesterday or few hourse back you typed ‘a very very long command’ and you need the same command again. hit CTRL+r and type first few letters of command.
CTRL-c : Cancel command.
CTRL-z : Suspend command.
CTRL-t : Transpose characters. For example you misspelled command date:
$ daet
You can delete the last two characters and retype date again. Or oress Ctr-+t to transpose a character.
$ daet [Hit CTRL+t]
Sample outputs:
$ date
ALT+t OR ESC+t: Transpose words. For example you typed the following command:
$ filename rm
To correct the command as rm filenamejust press Ctrl-t
$ filename rm [ALT+T]
Sample outputs:
$ rm filename
CTRL-u : Deletes entire line.
CTRL-k : Deletes to end of line from current cursor position.
HOME OR CTRL-a : Moves cursor to beginning of line.
END OR CTRL-e : Moves cursor to end of line.
Recall last argument from the previous command and save time
ALT+. – Hold down ALT key and press period/dot. For example, you typed the mkdir command as follows:
$ mkdir -p /tmp/demo/software/qtapp
Next, you need change directory to /tmp/demo/software/qtapp, type cd and press ALT-.:
$ cd [PRESS alt+.]
Command completion
Use tab key to complete command names or filenames. For example, type the word mo:
$ mo
Hit the TAB key to complete the word
$ mo [TAB]
List the possible completions
BASH also supports the possible completions of commands or text (file). For example you would like to list all the possible command starts with the word ls:
$ ls [ESC]
Sample outputs:
ls lsmod lsmod.modutils lspci lsusb lsattr lsmod.Lmodutils lsof
See also
Read the bash man page for more info:
man bash
Hmm that is cool, you can also read more shortcut keys in bash man page.
A thing to amend:
“CTRL-U : Deletes entire line”
No, CTRL-U Deletes from current cursor position to beginning of line (the opposite of CTRL-K)
CTRL-U, does not delete anything! It cuts from the beginning of the line into your bash ‘clip board’.
CTRL-Y then pastes it