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Convert decimal numbers to binary
Convert some decimal numbers to binary numbers. You could also build a general base-converter: $ function convBase { echo "ibase=$1; obase=$2; $3" | bc; } then you could write $ function decToBun { convBase 10 2 $1; }

find all files containing a pattern, open them using vi and place cursor to the first match, use 'n' and ':n' to navigate

Selecting a random file/folder of a folder
Also looks in subfolders

Rolling upgrades via aptitude
This has been my "sysupgrade" alias since ca. 2006, first used on Debian Sid, then Sabayon, and it still does its duty on Mint nowadays without breaking stuff.

Runs previous command but replacing
Replaces the first instance of 'foo' with 'bar'. To replace all instances of 'foo' with 'bar': !!:gs/foo/bar/

Check ps output to see if file is running, if not start it
This comes in handy if you have daemons/programs that have potential issues and stop/disappear, etc., can be run in cron to ensure that a program remains up no matter what. Be advised though, if a program did core out, you'd likely want to know why (gdb) so use with caution on production machines.

Find the package that installed a command

Rename files in batch

use vim to get colorful diff output
:q to quit

Open a man page as a PDF in Gnome
Would be better if gnome-open would accept std in Should be doable in KDE - anyone?


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