Linux command cheat sheets

The options you actually use, with a working example for each. Built to be kept open in a tab.

Looking for the basics — ls, cd, cp, pipes and redirection? Start with essential Linux commands.

Permissions & users

chmod & chown

chmod, chown, chgrp, umask and ACLs (setfacl/getfacl) with safe recursive recipes.

Text processing

awk

Print columns, filter rows and total values with awk and gawk one-liners.

grep

Search text and files with grep: regex, recursion, context, counts and one-liners.

sed

Find and replace, delete lines and edit files in place with GNU sed.

Files & archives

du, df & disk usage

Find what is filling your disk: df, du, ncdu, lsblk, inodes and cleanup one-liners.

find

Find files by name, size, age or permissions and act on them with -exec.

rsync

Copy and sync files locally or over SSH: -a, --delete, excludes, dry runs and backups.

tar

Create, list and extract tar.gz, tar.xz and tar.zst archives with GNU tar.

Remote access

SSH

OpenSSH commands for connecting, keys, file copy, tunnels, jump hosts and config.

System & services

journalctl

Read, follow and filter systemd journal logs by unit, boot, time and priority.

Processes (ps, top, kill)

ps, top, htop, kill, pkill, nice, jobs and nohup: find, control and stop processes.

systemctl

Start, stop, enable, inspect and override systemd services and timers.

Editors & terminals

tmux

tmux sessions, windows, panes, copy mode and a practical tmux.conf.

Vim

Save and quit, move, edit, search and replace, windows and macros in Vim.

Containers & git

Docker commands

Run, inspect and clean up containers, images, volumes and docker compose stacks.

Git commands

Everyday Git: commit, branch, merge, rebase, remotes, undo, stash and history.

Networking

curl

Download, call APIs and debug HTTP with curl: headers, JSON, auth, TLS and timing.

Firewall (ufw & firewalld)

ufw and firewall-cmd side by side: allow ports, restrict by IP, list and delete rules.

ip

ip addr, ip link, ip route and ip neigh with ifconfig/route/arp equivalents.

nmcli

NetworkManager from the terminal: Wi-Fi, static IP, DNS, profiles and hotspots.