Here is a brief list of commands for the UNIX environment:

Note: fn.ft is used as a generic file name and file type.

1. cat
   display file contents
   Usage: cat fn.ft


2. cd
   change directory
   Usage: cd dir_name


3. cp
   copy file
   Usage: cp source target


4. ls
   list contents of a directory
   Usage: ls


5. more
   display file contents one page at a time
   Usage: more fn.ft


6. head
   displays the first count lines of a fn.ft
   Usage: head -n count fn.ft


7. tail
   displays the last count lines of a fn.ft
   Usage: tail -n count fn.ft


8. mkdir
   create a new directory
   Usage: mkdir dir_name


9. mv
   move file or rename
   Usage: mv old_name new_name
   
   or
   
   Usage: mv old_name new_directory


10. passwd
    change password


11. pwd
    displays current directory
    Usage: pwd


12. rm
    deletes a file
    Usage: rm fn.ft


13. rmdir <directory name>
    deletes a directory
    Usage: rmdir dir_name


14. w, who
    display all current users
    Usage: w
    Usage: who


15. rwho
    display all current users logged on the local network
    Usage: rwho


16. finger
    user information lookup
    Usage: finger
    Usage: finger user


17. man <command>
    manual pages for a command
    Usage: man command


18. apropos <topic>
    list commands related to a topic
    Usage: apropos topic_of_interest


19. find
    recursively descends the directory tree from dir_name to find the path to fn.ft
    Usage: find dir_name -name "fn.ft"


20. lpr
    print
    Usage: lpr fn.ft


21. dos2unix
    converts DOS text files to UNIX style text files
    Usage: dos2unix dos.file unix.file


22. unix2dos
    converts UNIX text files to DOS style text files
    Usage: unix2dos unix.file dos.file


23. lynx
    text based browser
    Usage: lynx url_of_interest


24. links
    a nicer text based browser
    Usage: links url_of_interest


25. ps
    process status
    Usage: ps


26. top
    show system usage statistics
    Usage: top


27. whoami
    display effective userid
    Usage: whoami


28. frm
    display from and subject of email messages
    Usage: frm

Syntax of a directory name in the UNIX environment:

    /user/student/username/dirname

Not all commands are available on every machine, although all of them mentioned here are available on prime. There are many variations on how to use these commands. The user is urged to use the man pages to learn more about each command.

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