Unix Commands

Question 1

pwd

Answer 1

print working directory

Question 2

hostname

Answer 2

my computer’s network name

Question 3

mkdir

Answer 3

make directory [-p create intermediaries, -v verbose list created]

Question 4

cd

Answer 4

change directory [no args home dir, ~ home dir]

Question 5

ls

Answer 5

list directory [-a list all, -l long / detail format, -R recurse subdir]

Question 6

rmdir

Answer 6

remove directory

Question 7

pushd

Answer 7

push directory (save where I am, then go here)

Question 8

popd

Answer 8

pop directory (return to saved dir)

Question 9

touch

Answer 9

update mod and access time, or create new empty file

Question 10

cp

Answer 10

copy a file or directory [-i prompt on overwrite, -n do not overwrite, -R copy subdirs]

Question 11

mv

Answer 11

rename a file, move a file or directory [-i prompt on overwrite, -n do not overwrite]

Question 12

rm

Answer 12

remove a file or directory [-r recursively remove files and dir]

Question 13

more

Answer 13

scroll through a file

Question 14

less

Answer 14

page through a file, backwards too

Question 15

cat

Answer 15

stream file(s) to stdout [-n number the lines]

Question 16

pipe (|)

Answer 16

output of one command to input of following command

Question 17

redirect out (>)

Answer 17

write output of a command to a file

Question 18

redirect in (<)

Answer 18

use file as input for a command

Question 19

append output (»)

Answer 19

appends output of command to the file

Question 20

xargs

Answer 20

collect/execute arguments, for other command

Question 21

find

Answer 21

find files [provide start path, -name filename”]

Question 22

grep

Answer 22

find things inside files [-i ignore case, -r recurse subdirs (may not work)]

Question 23

man

Answer 23

rtfm - read a manual page

Question 24

apropos

Answer 24

find what man page is appropriate

Question 25

whatis

Answer 25

brief description of command

Question 26

env

Answer 26

look at your environment

Question 27

echo

Answer 27

write argument(s) to stdout

Question 28

export

Answer 28

set a new environment variable

Question 29

unset

Answer 29

unset an environment variable

Question 30

sudo

Answer 30

become super user root DANGER!

Question 31

exit

Answer 31

exit the shell

Question 32

chmod

Answer 32

change permission modifiers

Question 33

chown

Answer 33

change ownership

Question 34

which

Answer 34

determine which program/command executes in path

Question 35

print working directory

Answer 35

pwd

Question 36

my computer's network name

Answer 36

hostname

Question 37

make directory [-p create intermediaries, -v verbose list created]

Answer 37

mkdir

Question 38

change directory [no args home dir, ~ home dir]

Answer 38

cd

Question 39

list directory [-a list all, -l long / detail format, -R recurse subdir]

Answer 39

ls

Question 40

remove directory

Answer 40

rmdir

Question 41

push directory (save where I am, then go here)

Answer 41

pushd

Question 42

pop directory (return to saved dir)

Answer 42

popd

Question 43

update mod and access time, or create new empty file

Answer 43

touch

Question 44

copy a file or directory [-i prompt on overwrite, -n do not overwrite, -R copy subdirs]

Answer 44

cp

Question 45

rename a file, move a file or directory [-i prompt on overwrite, -n do not overwrite]

Answer 45

mv

Question 46

remove a file or directory [-r recursively remove files and dir]

Answer 46

rm

Question 47

scroll through a file

Answer 47

more

Question 48

page through a file, backwards too

Answer 48

less

Question 49

stream file(s) to stdout [-n number the lines]

Answer 49

cat

Question 50

output of one command to input of following command

Answer 50

pipe (|)

Question 51

write output of a command to a file

Answer 51

redirect out (>)

Question 52

use file as input for a command

Answer 52

redirect in (<)

Question 53

appends output of command to the file

Answer 53

append output (>>)

Question 54

execute arguments

Answer 54

xargs

Question 55

find files [provide start path, -name filename]

Answer 55

find

Question 56

find things inside files [-i ignore case, -r recurse subdirs (may not work)]

Answer 56

grep

Question 57

rtfm - read a manual page

Answer 57

man

Question 58

find what man page is appropriate

Answer 58

apropos

Question 59

brief description of command

Answer 59

whatis

Question 60

look at your environment

Answer 60

env

Question 61

write argument(s) to stdout

Answer 61

echo

Question 62

set a new environment variable

Answer 62

export

Question 63

remove an environment variable

Answer 63

unset

Question 64

become super user root DANGER!

Answer 64

sudo

Question 65

exit the shell

Answer 65

exit

Question 66

change permission modifiers

Answer 66

chmod

Question 67

change ownership

Answer 67

chown

Question 68

jobs

Answer 68

List current running processes

Question 69

List current running processes

Answer 69

jobs

Question 70

open

Answer 70

Opens given file using default program (uses finder when a dir)

Question 71

Opens given file using default program (uses finder when a dir)

Answer 71

open