How to Use the tail Command on Linux
The Linux tail command displays data from the end of a file. It can even display updates that are added to a file in real-time. We show you how to use it.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About inodes on Linux
The Linux file system relies on inodes. These vital pieces of the file system’s inner workings are often misunderstood. Let’s look at exactly what they are, and what they do.
How to Use the history Command on Linux
Linux’s shell saves a history of the commands you run, and you can search it to repeat commands you’ve run in the past. Once you understand the Linux history command and how to use it, it can significantly boost your producti…
How to Use at and batch on Linux to Schedule Commands
If you want to schedule a Linux job that will happen only once, cron is overkill. The at family of commands is what you need! And if you want to run processes only when your system has free resources, you can use batch….
How to Use rclone to Back Up to Google Drive on Linux
There’s still no official Linux client for Google Drive, but you can back up to your Google Drive using the rclone utility right from the command line. We show you how.
How to Create a Swap File on Linux
Add swap space to a Linux computer, or increase the swap space that’s already present, without messing about with partitions. We show you the easy way to tailor your swap space.
How to Use the free Command on Linux
The Linux free command displays how much of your computer’s memory is in use and how much is still available for programs to use. Its output can be confusing to the uninitiated, but we’ll show you how to understand it….
How to Use the stat Command on Linux
The Linux stat command shows you much more detail than ls does. Take a peek behind the curtain with this informative and configurable utility. We’ll show you how to use it.
How to Use the which Command on Linux
The Linux which command identifies the executable binary that launches when you issue a command to the shell. If you have different versions of the same program on your computer, you can use which to find out which one the sh…
How to Get the Size of a File or Directory in Linux
When you use the Linux du command, you obtain both the actual disk usage and the true size of a file or directory. We’ll explain why these values aren’t the same.
What Is Swappiness on Linux? (and How to Change It)
The Linux swappiness value has nothing to do with how much RAM is used before swapping starts. That’s a widely reported and widely believed mistake. We explain what it really is.
How to Use the dmesg Command on Linux
The dmesg command lets you peer into the hidden world of the Linux startup processes. Review and monitor hardware device and driver messages from the kernel’s own ring buffer with “the fault finder’s friend.”…
How to Use the ls Command to List Files and Directories on Linux
We use the Linux ls command every day without thinking about it. That’s a pity. Pay it some attention, and you’ll find many useful options—including some you should add to your command-line arsenal.
How to Change User Data With chfn and usermod on Linux
There’s more to a user account than a user name. Learn how to set and change all the metadata associated with a Linux user account from the command line.
How to Control sudo Access on Linux
The sudo command lets you run commands on Linux as though you were someone else, such as root. sudo also lets you control who can access root’s capabilities, with granularity. Give users full access or let them use a small…
How to Use the ps Command to Monitor Linux Processes
Get a snapshot of the processes running in your Linux computer with the ps command. Locate processes by name, user, or even terminal with as much or as little detail as you need. We show you how.
How to Use curl to Download Files From the Linux Command Line
The Linux curl command can do a whole lot more than download files. Find out what curl is capable of, and when you should use it instead of wget.
How to Change Account Passwords on Linux
Passwords have been a keystone of account security for 60 years, predating Unix by nearly a decade. Learn how to use either the command line or the GNOME desktop environment to manage your passwords in Linux….
How to Create a Screencast on Linux
Want to make a screencast on Linux but feeling overwhelmed by the choice of tools and programs? We describe three ways to create a screencast. The quick and easy way, the hard-core and granular way, and the way we think is th…
How to Use Canonical’s Livepatch Service on Ubuntu
Fancy having critical Linux kernel patches automatically applied to your Ubuntu system—without having to reboot your computer? We describe how to use Canonical’s Livepatch Service to do just that.
How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Ubuntu
Desktop icons should be simple, but they’re not on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and newer releases like Ubuntu 19.10. Follow these easy steps to get desktop shortcuts for your favorite applications, just like on other operating systems a…
How to Use the Echo Command on Linux
The echo command is perfect for writing formatted text to the terminal window. And it doesn’t have to be static text. It can include shell variables, filenames, and directories. You can also redirect echo to create text files…
How to Write an fstab File on Linux
Adding a new hard drive or solid-state drive to your Linux computer? You’ll need to edit your fstab file. A lot of people find the very idea scary. Yes, it’s critical that you get it right, but armed with the right knowledge,…
How to Use the less Command on Linux
The less command lets you page through a text file, displaying a screenful of text each time. It seems like one of the simplest Linux commands at first glance, but there’s a lot more to less than meets the eye….
Is macOS UNIX? (and What Does That Mean?)
Is macOS UNIX or just Unix? Or is it Unix-like? We answer the never-ending debate and explain standards like POSIX and the SUS along the way.
