Linux File Operations Every Developer Should know

In the world of software development, mastering file operations on Unix-like systems is non-negotiable. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, these 11 fundamental commands will supercharge your productivity and help you navigate the terminal with confidence.

1. pwd — Print Working Directory

Before manipulating files, you need to know where you are. The pwd command displays your current location in the file system:

$ pwd
/home/username/projects

2. ls — List Directory Contents

The ls command reveals what exists in your current directory:

$ ls
documents  downloads  images  project.txt

Add useful flags like -la to see hidden files and detailed information:

$ ls -la
total 20
drwxr-xr-x 5 user group 4096 Apr 20 10:30 .
drwxr-xr-x 7 user group 4096 Apr 19 12:15 ..
drwxr-xr-x 2 user group 4096 Apr 18 09:45 documents
drwxr-xr-x 2 user group 4096 Apr 17 15:20 downloads
drwxr-xr-x 3 user group 4096 Apr 16 11:10 images
-rw-r--r-- 1 user group  256 Apr 15 14:30 project.txt

3. cd — Change Directory