Comparison between Linux MacOS and Windows CLI/Terminal commands
Overview
The following guide provides an extensive comparison of common Linux commands and their equivalents in macOS and Windows operating systems. This comparison is essential for developers, system administrators, and IT professionals who frequently transition between different operating systems. It serves as a handy reference for executing similar tasks across Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms.
| Description | Linux Command | macOS Equivalent | Windows Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| List directory contents | ls |
ls |
dir |
| Disk usage of files and directories | du |
du |
dir /s or Get-ChildItem |
| List block devices | lsblk |
diskutil list |
Get-Disk in PowerShell |
| Show IP addresses | ip a |
ifconfig |
ipconfig |
| Search text using patterns | grep |
grep |
findstr or Select-String |
| Copy files and directories | cp |
cp |
copy or Copy-Item |
| Move or rename files and directories | mv |
mv |
move or Move-Item |
| Remove files or directories | rm |
rm |
del or Remove-Item |
| Change file mode bits | chmod |
chmod |
icacls |
| Change file owner and group | chown |
chown |
takeown / icacls |
| Archive files | tar |
tar |
tar (in recent versions) |
| Report file system disk space usage | df |
df |
fsutil volume diskfree |
| Report process status | ps |
ps |
Get-Process in PowerShell |
| Send signal to a process | kill |
kill |
taskkill |
| Task manager | top |
top or htop |
Task Manager or Get-Process |
Key Features
- Comprehensive Comparison: The guide covers a wide range of frequently used commands in Linux, mapping each to its macOS and Windows counterparts.
- User-Friendly Format: Presented in an easy-to-read Markdown table, making it simple to find and understand the equivalent commands across different operating systems.
- Practical Reference: Ideal for professionals and enthusiasts who need to adapt their command-line skills to various environments. Whether you're managing file systems, monitoring system processes, or configuring network settings, this guide offers the necessary command-line translations.
Accessibility
This guide is tailored to be accessible for both beginners and advanced users. It demystifies the command-line interface (CLI) across different platforms, promoting a smoother transition and adaptation for users of all skill levels.
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