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Tail a log file with long lines truncated
This truncates any lines longer than 80 characters. Also useful for looking at different parts of the line, e.g. cut -b 50-100 shows columns 50 through 100.

ssh tunnel with auto reconnect ability

Skip banner on ssh login prompt
This allows you to skip the banner (usually /etc/issue.net) on ssh connections. Useful to avoid banners outputted to your mail by rsync cronjobs.

Multiple variable assignments from command output in BASH
No command substitution but subshell redirection

Rename all files which contain the sub-string 'foo', replacing it with 'bar'
Would this command line achieve the desired function? My CLI knowledge is not great so this could certainly be wrong. It is merely a suggestion for more experienced uses to critique. Best wishes roly :-)

Display _something_ when an X app fails
When you run an X program from a terminal you can see any errors. But when it's run from another X program (eg from a menu item, from your fluxbox 'keys' file etc) it might just die and you see nothing (except perhaps in .xsession-errors). Instead, launch it via this command and you'll see the termination status, stderr and stdout. eg: "xlaunch firefox" or "xlaunch 'echo stdout; echo stderr >&2; false'": 'echo stdout; echo stderr >&2; false' failed with error 1 STDERR: stderr STDOUT: stdout

Print a horizontal line
Replace the underscore with any other character. e.g. + or - or =

Generate a Random MAC address
Use the following variation for FreeBSD: $ openssl rand 6 | xxd -p | sed 's/\(..\)/\1:/g; s/:$//'

Find the package that installed a command

Alternative for basename using grep to extract file name
Here's a bash version.


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