Tag: linux

find Flags You Keep Forgetting

Practical find command examples: -mtime, -newer, -type, -exec vs xargs, -not, size filters. The patterns you google every time.

The SSH Config File: The Shortcut You're Not Using

Master ~/.ssh/config: Host aliases, HostName, User, Port, IdentityFile, ProxyJump. Stop typing long SSH commands. One-line setup.

Why kill -9 Is the Wrong Default

Signals explained: SIGTERM vs SIGKILL, graceful shutdown, and when to actually use kill -9.

The umask You've Been Ignoring

Understand Linux umask: what it is, how 022 and 027 work, calculating file permissions, and why it matters for shared directories and security.

/proc as a Debugging Tool

The /proc filesystem is a window into running processes. Learn to use it without extra tools.

zram vs Swap: What's Actually Faster for Low-RAM Servers

Compare zram (compressed RAM) and traditional swap files. Learn when each works, setup, and real-world performance trade-offs for memory-constrained systems.

strace for Beginners: See What Any Process Is Doing

Use strace to trace system calls and debug mysterious errors without reading source code.

Using the Clipboard from the Linux Terminal

Copy and paste from the Linux terminal without a mouse. Master xclip, xsel, wl-copy, and integrate clipboard with tmux and SSH.

lsof: The Tool That Shows You Everything

Master lsof to find port conflicts, trace deleted files eating disk, and debug network connections.

CPU and I/O Priority with nice and ionice

Manage Linux process priority with nice (CPU) and ionice (I/O). Learn priority levels, renice running processes, and avoid tanking server performance.

Linux File Descriptor Limits: When 1024 Isn't Enough

File descriptors and why that 1024 limit kills your server. How to check, raise, and debug fd exhaustion.

The `at` Command: One-Time Scheduled Tasks in Linux

Schedule one-off Linux tasks with `at` instead of cron. Learn syntax, queue management, batch jobs, and when to use it for delayed reboots and reminders.