Make Linux more user friendly with this collection of Bash functions!

They provide commands that should be in Linux by default, or just abbreviations of commands that are provided, but are so commonly used that they deserve a shorter name and/or a set of configurable “sensible” options. When abbreviated command is executed, these predefined options are combined with the actual ones. Also most of the commands send their output to a pager if it doesn't fit the screen.

Collection was made for Debian based Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, ...) with Gnome desktop environment, but most commands will work on any system that has Bash shell and GNU Coreutils installed. For macOS see instructions.

There are currently 211 commands.

How to…

Install

$ git clone https://github.com/gto76/standard-aliases
$ cd standard-aliases
$ ./install

Uninstall

$ ./uninstall

Commands

Below is a list of most useful commands. If you want to check out the full list see LIST OF ALL COMMANDS.

Basic

Name	Runs	Description
p	if [[ $# -eq 0 ...	Print working directory or path to file.
l	___displayOutpu...	List or display directory contents in pager using short listing format.
la	__listOrDisplay...	List or display all directory contents in pager using short listing format.
ll	___displayOutpu...	List or display directory contents in pager using long listing format.
lla	__listOrDisplay...	List or display all directory contents in pager using long listing format.
e	echo "$@"	Print text.
c	cat "$@"	Print file contents.
m	___printOrDispl...	Print or display text or file in pager.
v	vim -p "$@"	Edit file with vim.

Directories

Name	Runs	Description
mk, md, mkdir1	mkdir --parents...	Create directory and descend into.
cpdir	cp --interactiv...	Copy directories safely.
mvdir	mv --interactiv...	Move directories safely.
rmdir	rm --interactiv...	Delete directories safely.

Useful

Name	Runs	Description
extract	if [ -z "$1" ];...	Extract archive of any type.
o, openFile	__runCommandInB...	Open file with default app.
rb, runInBackground	nohup "$@" &>/d...	Run command in background.
me, makeExecutable	if [[ ! -f "$1"...	Make file executable or create new bash or python script.
lo, locate1	locate "$1" </code>...	Locate files on filesystem containing pattern in their names.
grr	__printLinesCon...	Print or display with pager numbered lines containing pattern in working and subdirectories.

Git

Name	Runs	Description
gs	git -c color.st...	Print short repository status.
gd	git diff "$@"	Display changes between commits.
gl	git log --graph...	Display minimal log of commits.
commit	git commit -am ...	Commit changed and deleted files with message.
push	git push "$@"	Push changes to remote repository.
pull	git pull "$@"	Pull changes from remote repository.

Networking

Name	Runs	Description
pa, pingAll	ping -c 1 -q $(...	Ping gateway and google.
ip1	/sbin/ifconfig ...	Print internal ip.
ip2	lynx --dump htt...	Print external ip.
gateway	route -n </code>...	Print gateways ip.

Packages

Name	Runs	Description
update	sudo apt-get up...	Update information about available packages.
ch, canhaz	if [[ "$__stand...	Install package.
ve, version	# Check if pass...	Print installed and available version of package or command.
wi, whatis1	# Checks if it ...	Describe package or command or find available packages with part of name or command.

How To Rename Commands

• Check if name is already taken by running: $ type <name>
• Open .standardrc located in your home directory and add a new name in front of function's description.
• Save and run: $ bash

Misc

• Usually if function only makes Linux command easier to use, either by using a few “sensible” options, or just by sending output to a pager (if necessary), then it has the same name as command, but with number 1 appended at the end. Some examples are: ps1, mkdir1, pgrep1, tree1. Options for this commands are defined at the bottom of standardrc and can be customized by preference.

• cp, mv, rm and rmdir are the only functions that override already existing commands. They are all run in interactive mode, meaning you get asked for conformation before any destructive operation. If you want to execute them without this prompting, use -f (force) option. rmdir also deletes the directory contents.

• Command-line completions are automatically assigned to functions, depending on what commands they use.

• Commands for accessing the “framework”:

  • ty COMMAND – prints function's body (short for type),
  • rc – opens configuration file (~/.standardrc) in default editor,
  • fu – opens standard_functions in default editor.

How It Works

After installation the “framework” consists of three files:

• standard_functions: It contains Bash functions with long descriptive names. It is located in projects directory.

• User's .standardrc file: Configuration file that specifies short names for functions. Also defines options that this functions use when they call specific commands. It is located in user's home directory.

• Automatically generated aliases file: Contains functions with short names that call functions with longer names (as defined in configuration file). It also assigns appropriate command-line completions to the short functions. It is located in ~/.standard_aliases directory.

Every time new Bash shell is started, "framework" checks if any changes were made to the functions or configuration file and if so, it generates new aliases file.

How to run on macOS

• Install Developer Tools by running:

make

• Install Homebrew:

ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

• Install GNU Coreutils:

brew install coreutils
echo '. .bashrc' >> .profile
echo 'PATH="/usr/local/opt/coreutils/libexec/gnubin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
bash

• Install other GNU programs (optional):

brew tap homebrew/dupes
brew install grep --with-default-names
brew install findutils --with-default-names
brew install tree
...