column: create columns from text input
tr: translate/substitute/delete input
join: like a database join but for text
comm: file comparison like a db join
paste: put lines in a file next to each other
rs: reshape arrays
jot: generate data
expand: replace spaces and/or tabs
time: track how long a task takes to run
watch: execute something on a schedule in realtime
xargs: execute something on all inputs
iftop: visually show network traffic
htop: show system stats more powerfully
xxd: manipulate files in hex
mtr: powerful traceroute replacement
mdfind: osx find replacement that uses spotlight
brew: osx package manager
df: disk usage
du: disk usage
dig: dns queries
host: dns queries
man ascii: lookup your ascii
sshfs: mount a directory through ssh
wget: get w’s
tmux: a better screen
pushd: push your pwd to a stack
popd: pop pwd off your stack
lsof: godlike
ncat: use this instead of nc
fuser: kills locking processes
vim: attack yourself
tac: cat in reverse
rename: change spaces to underscores in names
open .: in osx, open finder in the current dir
lsmod: show kernel modules
printf: change the format of output
timeout: execute something and kill it soon after
disown: protect a job from disconnect
fc: edit your last command in your editor and execute it
sudo !!: repeat last command with sudo
tee: send output to stdout as well
pgrep: greps through processes
pkill: kills processes based on search
fmt: text formatter
bc: an interactive calculator language
apropos: info on commands
strace: the uber debug tool
man units: interesting
pstree: shows processes in a…well…tree
ddate: wtf
zgrep: grep within compressed files
zless: look at compressed files
readlink: read values of links
atop: another top
split: break a file into pieces
dd: disk writing
ndiff: show differences in mmap scans
ss: show apps using the internet
whatis <cmd> when unsure of what a command does is quite helpful and displays short manual page descriptions, for instance some metaphysical question:
> whatis time