14 unexpected ways to use a Linux terminal

Linux Terminal - a versatile tool that can do just about anything with the system. Of course, the vast majority of users of the terminal is opened very seldom. But if you want to feel like a Linux guru, you should familiarize yourself with the terminal closer.

1. Yelling at system

If you are at least occasionally using a Linux terminal, you should be familiar with this situation. You enter the command to execute which requires root access, but forget to print in front of her sudo. The system informs you that it is impossible to execute the command.

Sometimes the best way to get Linux to do something - scream. enter sudo !! - two exclamation points system will understand that you are determined. The terminal will perform the last your command as root.

This is handy because you will not need to type it again.

2. View files and folders in a Linux terminal

If you want to abandon the beautiful and stylish file managers like Nemo and the Nautilus, and try something new, set the ranger. This file manager works directly in the console. To setup, follow: sudo apt install ranger.

Then, run the command file manager: ranger.

Now you can view your folders directly in the terminal. Note that the ranger a lot of teams that make it to perform various operations with files. They can be found by typing: man ranger.

Another terminal file manager - mc, also known as Midnight Commander. He functional ranger. You can install it simply: sudo apt install mc.

And then run the command Midnight Commander mc.

It has two-panel interface, and in general it is simpler and clearer than the ranger.

3. Surf the internet

If you reach the point of enlightenment that are viewing your files and folders in the terminal, then perhaps it is time to delete Chrome - still he does nothing that shows advertisements but merges the history of your surfing Google. Selecting this konsolschikov - Lynx.

Install and run it possible commands:

sudo apt install lynx

lynx

This is a full-featured browser running on the terminal. Yes, it only shows the bare text without pictures. Yes, it does not support CSS, and JavaScript. But it works so quickly and takes up so little space, that with it you can read Layfhaker even on the calculator to your granny.

If you think Lynx too austere, try Links2. This is a fork of the Lynx, it supports styles and JavaScript, and even show pictures. In it, you can not just open a pre-known URL, like in Lynx, but also use Google search.

sudo apt install links2

links2

4. Read e-mail on a Linux terminal

In Linux, there is also a terminal email client. Mutt supports IMAP and POP3 protocols and is compatible with almost all popular email providers. In it there is even a mechanism for message encryption and electronic signatures.

sudo apt install mutt

mutt

5. Listen to music in the terminal

Tell me honestly: if the value has a music player interface? Is most of the time he does not carry out, playing music in the background?

So that we can demolish Rhythmbox and Clementine with their jumble of features such as support strimingovyh music services and scrobbling to Last.fm. Instead, we will install moc (Music on Console).

sudo apt install moc

mocp

6. swing torrents

As a music player, torrent client usually it is minimized, so that the beauty of the interface is not the place here. rtorrent - simple and tiny client that runs in the terminal.

sudo apt install rtorrent

rtorrent

7. Monitor system resources

To see which applications are so blatantly loaded memory and the processor, you can use htop. It is, in fact, the "Task Manager» Windows or the "Monitoring system» macOS. The app allows you to set the priority of processes, sort them or to finish.

sudo apt install htop

htop

8. print texts

George Martin wrote "game of thrones'On your old computer with a DOS editor WordStar 4.0. He argues that it helps to be productive and not be distracted by the Internet.

We follow the example of the writer, and will work in vim. This old school text editor. In it there is only a black background and white cursor. Nothing will come off of your text.

Vim is set as follows: sudo apt install vim.

Start vim can, oddly enough, the team vim.

If you have a text editor interface seems incomprehensible, type vimtutor - open learning.

9. Schedule events on the calendar

Calcurse - Calendar console. FROM calendar Google is not synchronized, but otherwise provides a good functionality. It allows you to create events and write to-do lists. There is in him and notification system.

sudo apt install calcurse

calcurse

10. See pictures

Yes, in the Linux terminal, you can see pictures. ASCII character graphics - a thing, of course, an amateur, but it looks funny. View images in the terminal carries cacaview.

sudo apt install caca-utils

cacaview

11. admire train

In Linux, there is a command that displays the contents of folders in the terminal. Experienced users of the terminal use it quite often. It is called ls.

If you type fast, you can confuse the two buttons and enter the command sl. And the terminal will show you... Steam locomotive with wagon (Steam Locomotive).

It's just funny Easter eggs from developers. Who knows what they want to say.

If the command does not display the locomotive, it means that your Linux distribution Easter eggs safely cut. To set it back, please sudo apt install sl.

12. See "Star Wars" in the Linux terminal

In Linux, there is a package telnetThat allows your computer to connect to the network port on another computer. By itself, it is interesting except for system administrators, but it has a fun Easter eggs. enter the command telnet towel.blinkenlights.nlAnd will be able to see "Star Wars"Just in the terminal window.

13. Discovering diskordianskim calendar

In Linux, there is a command dateWhich is used to set the system clock. She again needed only to system administrators, because ordinary people set the time and date via the menu "Options".

But if you ever type a ddate, The system will show you the current date... on diskordianskomu calendar. Diskordianstvo - this is such a parody religion.

If the command does not work, then your distribution Easter eggs cut. Install it, you can: sudo apt install ddate.

14. Talk with cows

Linux developers somehow very fond of cows. Even more than penguins. Otherwise, do not explain why Easter eggs, a cow is, even in the standard package manager apt.

enter the command sudo apt moo, And the package manager will draw a cow, which asks whether you lowed today.

In addition, the cows can talk through the terminal application cowsay: sudo apt-get install cowsay fortune-mod.

After installation, type fortune | cowsay. And the cow will give some witty frazochku - Quote of the day and stuff like that.

In addition to cows, you can talk with other animals. For example, an elephant or a dragon. To see a list of animals that enter cowsay -l.

see also

• 71 Linux commands for all occasions. Well, almost →
• What Linux distribution to choose in 2018 →
• 9 Linux distributions that will breathe life into the old computer →