Uncommon but Useful Linux Commands with Examples

Linux is a powerful operating system with thousands of commands, many of which are rarely discussed but extremely useful. Here are 10 lesser-known commands every Linux user should know.

1. tldr – Simplified Command Help

Provides simplified and community-driven man pages.

tldr tar

Example usage summary of tar with common examples.

2. ncdu – NCurses Disk Usage

Interactive way to view and manage disk usage.

ncdu /home

3. bat – A Better Cat

A modern replacement for cat with syntax highlighting and line numbers.

bat script.sh

4. fzf – Fuzzy File Finder

Quickly find files and directories using fuzzy search.

fzf

5. watch – Re-run Commands at Intervals

Runs a command repeatedly and shows the output live.

watch -n 5 df -h

Refreshes disk usage info every 5 seconds.

6. tree – Visual Directory Tree

Displays directory structure in a tree-like format.

tree /var/log

7. xxd – Make a Hex Dump

Creates a hex dump of a file, useful for debugging binary files.

xxd file.bin

8. nmap – Network Scanner

Scan open ports and discover network hosts.

nmap 192.168.1.0/24

9. column – Format Output into Columns

Aligns output into neat columns for readability.

cat data.txt | column -t

10. shuf – Shuffle Lines of a File

Randomizes lines in a file or output.

shuf names.txt

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These uncommon commands can significantly improve your Linux workflow and help you discover new capabilities in your system. Try them out and elevate your terminal experience!