People would likely experience greater happiness if they began learning about computers and became familiar with the meaning of the “chmod” command.
To aid in this pursuit, I have prepared a table containing a list of such commands. It is unclear why computer experts continue to employ abbreviations, though perhaps there are hardware constraints that necessitate their use.
The use of a terminal interface today is not necessarily the same as it was in the early days of computing. Today’s terminals may have larger screens, more powerful hardware, and more efficient input methods (such as keyboards with better tactile feedback and key rollover). Additionally, modern operating systems have graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that provide alternative ways to interact with the system. These factors make it easier for users to type out full command names and make abbreviations less critical for efficiency.
Nevertheless, in modern times, it seems somewhat peculiar to type “mkdir” instead of “new-folder”.
Abbreviated Command | Full Command | |
---|---|---|
cat | concatenate | show |
cd | change directory | go |
chmod | change mode | set-mode |
chown | change owner | set-owner |
cp | copy | copy |
df | disk free | disk-free |
du | disk usage | disk-usage |
grep | globally search for a regular expression and print | |
ls | list | list |
mkdir | make directory | new-folder |
mv | move | move |
ps | process status | process |
pwd | print working directory | show-path |
rm | remove | delete |
rmdir | remove directory | delete-folder |
scp | secure copy | secure-copy |
ssh | secure shell | secure-shell |
sudo | superuser do | root-do |
tar | tape archive | archive |
top | table of processes | system |
unzip | uncompress zip file | decompress |
wget | web get | get |
zip | compress zip file | compress |
sed | stream editor | steam-edit |
awk | Aho, Weinberger, and Kernighan |
A modern software developer may choose not to use abbreviations when typing out commands in order to avoid confusion and ensure clarity. Typing out full command names can make it easier to understand what the command does and can help avoid mistakes that might occur when using abbreviations. Additionally, modern development environments and IDEs often provide tools such as auto-complete that make it easy to type out full command names quickly. Using full command names can also make it easier to collaborate with other developers and to share code with a wider audience. Ultimately, whether to use abbreviations or not is a matter of personal preference, but choosing not to use them can help ensure clear communication and minimize errors in software development.