Create Aliases on OS X and Linux for Faster Work on Command Line – Like You Can Configure the key c for clear command on Terminal or iTerm2. This sounds nice as we no longer will need to use tar -xzvf like bigger commands. We are using iTerm2 on our MacBook Pro running OS X 10.9, well the things are same on any *nix system. But, you must must read iTerm2, Homebrew and ZSH Installation on OS X and Can Not Find .Profile File if you are using OS X. Can Not Find .Profile File OS X is a frequent complain. Also, you need to understand what is Symbolic Link.
Create Aliases on OS X and Linux : Precautions
If you have no idea about what you are doing, specially for OS X, BSD like Pure UNIX breeds, kindly read our older articles on what is terminal, what are workstation, actually we are running the same UNIX on iPhone with which human went to moon. You must have a clear idea about UNIX Shell. Without having a clear idea and executing command can end up in no boot on restart.
Shell aliases are shortcut names for commands. Each alias consists of one word that you can use instead of a longer command line. For our setup, we will edit :
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1 | nano ~/.zshrc |
ZSH is the Shell, actually this is safer than directly editing default BASH. RC is common, that config file will bear the name bashrc. Actually the things are easy once you are used with them. You can also test your current number of aliases by running this command and hitting the Return key :
1 | <span style="color: #000000;">alias</span> |
Running example !
Create Aliases on OS X and Linux
The syntax is universal on all *nix system, irrespective of Shell or Distro :
1 2 3 4 | # Example 1 alias name='command' # Example 2 alias name='command arg1 arg2' |
Practical example :
1 2 | # typing c and hitting the return key will clear the screen alias c='clear' |
Second can be a larger, bigger example :
1 2 | # alias should never conflict alias d='mkdir -p' |
Please note that, if you are running Linux on a machine intended for running MS Windozzzz, keyword mapping can be different and this ' might become something else. Be careful.
