50 Essential Linux Commands Every Developer Should Know

The command line is a powerful tool that every programmer — scratch that — every good programmer should master. Navigating through the command line not only boosts productivity but also offers unparalleled control over your environment.

If you’re new to Linux or just brushing up, here’s a practical guide to 50 common Linux commands you should know

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lsb_release

This command gives you details about your Linux distribution. For example:

lsb_release -a

Outputs information like Ubuntu version, which in this guide is 22.04.

cd - Change Directory

Move between directories:

cd /path/to/directory

To go back to the home directory:

cd ~

clear - Clean the Terminal

To clear the terminal screen:

clear

This is especially useful for keeping your workspace tidy.

touch - Create a New File

To create a blank file:

touch newfile.txt

vim - Edit Files