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How to Make Custom Commands for Linux Terminal?

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

With commands, users can communicate with the operating system via the Linux terminal, a handy tool. Although the terminal has several pre-defined commands, you can improve productivity and optimize processes by writing your custom commands. This article explains how to write and use custom commands in the Linux terminal to personalize and enhance your experience.

User-defined scripts or shortcuts that carry out particular actions in the terminal are called custom commands. They can automate tedious chores, simplify complicated command sequences, or add functionality to existing commands. Users can increase their overall efficiency and save time when using the terminal by writing custom commands.

The easiest method for creating custom commands in Linux is to use aliases. With them, you can create a shortcut for an already-existing combash: cd: Videos: No such file or directory

ubuntu $mand or set of commands. This is how an alias is made:

• Get your terminal open.
• To create an alias, use the syntax as follows:

Command: alias shortcut_name='command_to_run'

For example, if you frequently use ls -la To list files in detail, you can create an alias like this:

Command: alias ll='ls -la'

Add this alias to your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bash_aliases or ~/.bashrc) to make it permanent. Run source ~/.bashrc after making modifications to the file.

Shell scripts can be used to construct more intricate custom commands. A shell script is a file that the terminal can run that contains a list of commands. This is how to make one:

1. Create a New Script File: To make a new script file, use a text editor. As an illustration:

Command: nano myscript.sh

2. Add Shebang Line: At the top of the file, add the shebang line to specify the script interpreter:

Command: #!/bin/bash

3. Add Commands: Write the commands you want to execute in the script. For example:

Command:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!"
date

4. Make the Script Executable: Save the file and exit the editor. Then, make the script executable with the following command:

Command: chmod +x myscript.sh

5. Run the Script: Execute the script by typing:

Command: ./myscript.sh

You can also write custom commands inside your shell using functions. They are very handy when generating more complex instructions with parameters. How to build a function is as follows:

1. Open Your Shell Configuration File: Edit your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile.

2. Define the Function: The syntax for creating a function is as follows:

my_function() {
    command1
    command2
}

For example, to create a function that backs up a directory, you could write:

backup() {
    tar -czf "$1_backup.tar.gz" "$1"
}

3. Save and Source the File: Save the changes and run source ~/.bashrc to apply them.

4. Use the Function: You can now use your custom function like this:

backup my_directory

If you use Git regularly, you can write custom commands to make repetitive activities easier. For instance, you could write a function that logs in with a single command and checks the status:

Command:
git_status_log() {
    git status
    git log --oneline
}

You can combine multiple commands into a single custom command. For instance, if you often navigate to a directory and list its contents, you can create a function:

Command:
go_and_list() {
    cd "$1" && ls -la
}

You can also call your custom commands or scripts within other scripts. This allows you to build complex workflows by combining various commands and scripts.

Developing personalized commands for the Linux terminal can significantly increase your efficiency and improve your enjoyment of using the command line. Shell scripts, functions, and aliases can help you automate repetitive activities and improve processes. As you gain more experience with custom commands, there are a plethora of methods to customize the terminal to meet your unique requirements, which will ultimately increase your task management efficiency.

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