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Must-Have CLI Tools That Can Supercharge Your Workflow
Beyond ls and grep—command-line power-ups every developer should know
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The command line is where true efficiency often lives. While GUIs are great for onboarding and visualization, experienced developers know that the CLI (Command-Line Interface) can be faster, more customizable, and far more powerful. Yet, many of us still stick to the basics—navigating directories, running scripts, and committing code.
But the CLI universe is much bigger. A well-curated set of tools can streamline your workflow, reduce context switching, and give you superpowers that GUIs simply can’t match. Whether you’re a backend engineer, DevOps specialist, or just a developer who enjoys speed, these tools are worth exploring.
Let’s dive into some must-have CLI tools that can seriously upgrade your daily workflow.
1. fzf – Fuzzy Finder
Searching for files or navigating through massive command histories can be frustrating. fzf makes it simple: it’s an interactive, general-purpose fuzzy finder. With just a few keystrokes, you can search file names, git branches, or command history without remembering exact strings.
Pro tip: Combine fzf with Ctrl+R to supercharge your command history search.
2. ripgrep (rg) – The Smarter Grep
grep is a classic, but ripgrep is a modern replacement designed for speed. It recursively searches directories for a regex pattern, respects .gitignore by default, and is lightning-fast. For developers working in large codebases, rg is a massive time-saver.
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3. bat – A Better Cat
The humble cat command is useful but plain. bat adds syntax highlighting, line numbers, and Git integration. Reading code or config files from the terminal suddenly becomes much easier on the eyes.
4. htop – Interactive Process Viewer
Instead of running top and squinting at columns, htop gives you a colorful, interactive way to monitor system resources. You can easily kill processes, sort by CPU usage, and see memory distribution in real time.
5. tldr – Simplified Man Pages
Man pages are comprehensive but overwhelming. tldr provides community-driven simplified versions of common commands with practical examples. Instead of scrolling through dozens of options, you get quick clarity.
6. exa – Modern Replacement for ls
exa makes directory listings beautiful and informative. It shows file metadata, supports tree views, and even highlights Git status—all in a clean, modern format. Once you try it, going back to ls feels like using dial-up internet.
7. httpie – HTTP for Humans
Testing APIs from the terminal? Skip curl’s cryptic flags and try httpie. Its syntax is intuitive and responses are formatted with colors and indentation. It’s a must-have for backend developers and anyone debugging APIs.
8. glances – System Monitoring at a Glance
If you want an all-in-one system overview, glances is the tool. It monitors CPU, memory, network, disk usage, and more—all in a clean, curses-based UI. Perfect for quickly spotting bottlenecks.
9. ncdu – Disk Usage Analyzer
Ever run out of space and wonder where it went? ncdu provides an interactive breakdown of disk usage, making it easy to hunt down large files and directories without leaving the terminal.
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Putting It All Together
These tools are not just add-ons—they represent a philosophy of working smarter. The CLI is where automation, customization, and speed converge. Once you start layering these tools into your workflow, you’ll find yourself spending less time navigating and more time creating.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to learn all these tools at once?
Not at all. Start with one or two that solve your immediate pain points (e.g., ripgrep for searching or htop for monitoring) and build gradually.
Q: Are these tools cross-platform?
Most of them are available on Linux, macOS, and even Windows via WSL or package managers like brew and choco.
Q: Will these replace my GUI tools completely?
Not necessarily. GUIs still shine for visualization and collaboration. Think of CLI tools as your speed layer, not a total replacement.
Q: How do I install them quickly?
Most are available via package managers (apt, brew, dnf, etc.). Some, like fzf or bat, also have GitHub releases you can download directly.
Final Thought
Developers often underestimate the productivity gains hidden in the command line. By adding just a few of these tools to your toolkit, you can eliminate repetitive friction and rediscover the joy of efficient problem-solving.
The CLI isn’t old school—it’s where the future of developer productivity keeps getting rewritten.
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Until next time,
— Team Nullpointer Club
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