🧾 Linux/Unix: Cheat Sheets & Quick References
🧲 Introduction – Why Use Cheat Sheets?
Learning Linux/Unix commands and syntax can be overwhelming, especially when working with diverse distributions and tasks. That’s where cheat sheets and quick references come in handy. Whether you’re managing files, configuring users, or scripting in bash, a well-organized cheat sheet saves time and avoids errors.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll discover:
- The most useful Linux/Unix cheat sheets for daily operations
- Categorized quick-reference tables for essential commands
- Downloadable and online resources for instant access
📌 Essential Linux/Unix Cheat Sheet Categories
🔹 File & Directory Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| List files | ls, ls -l, ls -a |
| Copy files | cp source dest |
| Move/rename files | mv old new |
| Delete files | rm file |
| Create directory | mkdir dirname |
| Remove directory | rmdir dirname or rm -r |
🔹 Permissions & Ownership
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Change permissions | chmod 755 file |
| Change ownership | chown user:group file |
| View permissions | ls -l |
| Set default permission mask | umask |
🔹 Package Management (by Distribution)
| Distro | Install | Update | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu/Debian | apt install | apt update && upgrade | apt remove |
| RHEL/CentOS | yum install / dnf | yum update | yum remove |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S | pacman -Syu | pacman -R |
| SUSE | zypper install | zypper update | zypper remove |
🔹 Process Management
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| View processes | ps aux or top |
| Kill a process by PID | kill PID |
| Kill by name | pkill name |
| Run in background | command & |
| Bring job to foreground | fg |
🔹 Networking Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Check IP address | ip a or ifconfig |
| Test connectivity (ping) | ping hostname |
| Display open ports | ss -tuln or netstat -tuln |
| Transfer via SSH | scp file user@host:/path |
| Remote login | ssh user@host |
🔹 Disk & File System
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Check disk space | df -h |
| Check file/folder size | du -sh folder |
| Mount a disk | mount /dev/sdX /mnt |
| View block devices | lsblk |
| View disk UUIDs | blkid |
🔹 Search & Text Processing
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Search in files | grep pattern file |
| Count words/lines | wc file |
| View file head/tail | head -n 10 file, tail -n 10 |
| Sort file content | sort file |
| Remove duplicates | uniq file |
📎 Downloadable & Online Cheat Sheets
🔗 Curated Online Cheat Sheets:
- tldr.sh – Simple explanations for common commands
- cheatography.com – Dozens of Linux command sheets
- OverAPI.com – Aggregated Linux command references
- Linux Command Library (App) – Mobile-friendly CLI tooltips
📄 Recommended Printable PDFs:
- The Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet – by FOSSwire
URL: https://fosswire.com/post/2007/08/unixlinux-command-cheat-sheet/ - RedHat Linux Command Cheat Sheet
URL: https://access.redhat.com/articles/1189123 - Ubuntu Reference Sheet
URL: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CommandlineHowto
🧠 Bonus: Shell Navigation Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl + A | Move to beginning of line |
Ctrl + E | Move to end of line |
Ctrl + U | Delete from cursor to start of line |
Ctrl + K | Delete from cursor to end of line |
Ctrl + R | Reverse search through command history |
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
Having a Linux/Unix cheat sheet at your fingertips helps you work faster, learn smarter, and troubleshoot efficiently. Whether you’re on a terminal, writing a script, or configuring a server, quick references are your best companion.
🔍 Key Takeaways:
- Use categorized tables to quickly find commands and flags.
- Bookmark downloadable cheat sheets and community-curated guides.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity on the shell.
❓ FAQs
❓ What’s the best Linux cheat sheet for beginners?
✅ The FOSSwire or tldr pages are concise, beginner-friendly, and cover most daily-use commands.
❓ Can I use cheat sheets for scripting too?
✅ Yes! They’re great for Bash scripting, especially when using loops, variables, or file operations.
❓ Are there command-line tools for cheat sheets?
✅ Try installing tldr or cheat:
sudo apt install tldr
tldr tar
❓ What’s the difference between cheat and tldr?
✅ tldr is simplified; cheat is more detailed and community-contributed. Both are helpful.
❓ How can I create my own cheat sheet?
✅ Use a markdown file or note-taking tool (like Obsidian or Notion), and organize by categories you use frequently.
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