Popular Command-Line Tools

The command line remains one of the most powerful tools for developers, system administrators, and power users. Command-line tools allow fast, precise control over files, processes, and networks without relying on heavy graphical interfaces. Here are some of the most popular command-line tools widely used today.

Version Control

Managing code and collaborating with teams is essential.

Git – The industry standard for version control, tracking changes, and managing collaborative projects.

GitHub CLI – Manage repositories, pull requests, and issues directly from the terminal.

File & Text Management

Efficient file and text handling speeds up development.

grep – Searches text in files using patterns.

awk & sed – Powerful text processing and transformation tools.

find / fd – Locate files quickly in a directory tree.

ripgrep (rg) – Extremely fast search tool optimized for codebases.

System Monitoring & Management

Command-line utilities help monitor system resources and processes.

htop – Interactive process viewer and system monitor.

top – Displays real-time system activity.

du / df – Check disk usage and available space.

Networking Tools

Network testing and troubleshooting from the terminal.

curl – Transfer data from or to a server using various protocols.

wget – Download files from the web efficiently.

ping / traceroute – Test network connectivity and routes.

Automation & Productivity

Streamline repetitive tasks using simple scripts.

cron – Schedule scripts and commands to run automatically.

make – Automate building and compiling software.

AutoHotkey / shell scripts – Automate tasks using scripts.