IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
| Name |
Category |
Status (Option code) |
Description |
First appeared |
| admin |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Create and administer SCCS files |
PWB UNIX |
| alias |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Define or display aliases |
|
| ar |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Create and maintain library archives |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| asa |
Text processing |
Optional (FR) |
Interpret carriage-control characters |
System V |
| at |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Execute commands at a later time |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| awk |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Pattern scanning and processing language |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| basename |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Return non-directory portion of a pathname; see also dirname |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| batch |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Schedule commands to be executed in a batch queue |
|
| bc |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Arbitrary-precision arithmetic language |
Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
| bg |
Process management |
Optional (UP) |
Run jobs in the background |
|
| cc/c99 |
C programming |
Optional (CD) |
Compile standard C programs |
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 |
| cal |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Print a calendar |
Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
| cat |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Concatenate and print files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| cd |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Change the working directory |
Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
| cflow |
C programming |
Optional (XSI) |
Generate a C-language call graph |
System V |
| chgrp |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Change the file group ownership |
PWB UNIX |
| chmod |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Change the file modes/attributes/permissions |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| chown |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Change the file ownership |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| cksum |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Write file checksums and sizes |
4.4BSD |
| cmp |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Compare two files; see also diff |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| comm |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Select or reject lines common to two files |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| command |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Execute a simple command |
|
| compress |
Filesystem |
Optional (XSI) |
Compress data |
4.3BSD |
| cp |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Copy files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| crontab |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Schedule periodic background work |
System V |
| csplit |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Split files based on context |
PWB UNIX |
| ctags |
C programming |
Optional (SD) |
Create a tags file |
3BSD |
| cut |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Cut out selected fields of each line of a file |
System III |
| cxref |
C programming |
Optional (XSI) |
Generate a C-language program cross-reference table |
System V |
| date |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Display the date and time |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| dd |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Convert and copy a file |
Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
| delta |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Make a delta (change) to an SCCS file |
PWB UNIX |
| df |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Report free disk space |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| diff |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Compare two files; see also cmp |
Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
| dirname |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Return the directory portion of a pathname; see also basename |
System III |
| du |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Estimate file space usage |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| echo |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Write arguments to standard output |
Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
| ed |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
The standard text editor |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| env |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Set the environment for command invocation |
System III |
| ex |
Text processing |
Optional (XSI) |
Text editor |
1BSD |
| expand |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Convert tabs to spaces |
3BSD |
| expr |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Evaluate arguments as an expression |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| false |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Return false value |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| fc |
Misc |
Optional (UP) |
Process the command history list |
|
| fg |
Process management |
Optional (UP) |
Run jobs in the foreground |
|
| file |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Determine file type |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| find |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Find files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| fold |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Filter for folding lines |
1BSD |
| fort77 |
FORTRAN77 programming |
Obscalescent (FD) |
FORTRAN compiler |
XPG4 |
| fuser |
Process management |
Optional (XSI) |
List process IDs of all processes that have one or more files open |
System V |
| gencat |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Generate a formatted message catalog |
|
| get |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Get a version of an SCCS file |
PWB UNIX |
| getconf |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Get configuration values |
|
| getopts |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Parse utility options |
|
| grep |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Search text for a pattern |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| hash |
Misc |
Mandatory |
hash database access method |
|
| head |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Copy the first part of files |
PWB UNIX[citation needed] |
| iconv |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Codeset conversion |
HP-UX |
| id |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Return user identity |
System V |
| ipcrm |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Remove a message queue, semaphore set, or shared memory segment identifier |
System V |
| ipcs |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Report interprocess communication facilities status |
System V |
| jobs |
Process management |
Optional (UP) |
Display status of jobs in the current session |
|
| join |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Merges two sorted text files based on the presence of a common field |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| kill |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Terminate or signal processes |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| lex |
C programming |
Optional (CD) |
Generate programs for lexical tasks |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| link |
Filesystem |
Optional (XSI) |
Create a hard link to a file |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| ln |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Link files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| locale |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Get locale-specific information |
|
| localedef |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Define locale environment |
|
| logger |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Log messages |
4.3BSD |
| logname |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Return the user's login name |
4.4BSD |
| lp |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Send files to a printer |
System V |
| ls |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
List directory contents |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| m4 |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Macro processor |
PWB UNIX |
| mailx |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Process messages |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| make |
Programming |
Optional (SD) |
Maintain, update, and regenerate groups of programs |
PWB UNIX |
| man |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Display system documentation |
Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
| mesg |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Permit or deny messages |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| mkdir |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Make directories |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| mkfifo |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Make FIFO special files |
4.4BSD[dubious – discuss] |
| more |
Text processing |
Optional (UP) |
Display files on a page-by-page basis |
3BSD |
| mv |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Move or rename files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| newgrp |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Change to a new group (functionaliy similar to sg[1]) |
Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
| nice |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Invoke a utility with an altered nice value |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| nl |
Text processing |
Optional (XSI) |
Line numbering filter |
System III |
| nm |
C programming |
Optional (SD, XSI) |
Write the name list of an object file |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| nohup |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Invoke a utility immune to hangups |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| od |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Dump files in various formats |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| paste |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Merge corresponding or subsequent lines of files |
Version 32V AT&T UNIX |
| patch |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Apply changes to files |
4.3BSD |
| pathchk |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Check pathnames |
|
| pax |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Portable archive interchange |
4.4BSD[citation needed] |
| pr |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Print files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| printf |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Write formatted output |
4.3BSD-Reno |
| prs |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Print an SCCS file |
PWB UNIX |
| ps |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Report process status |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| pwd |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
print working directory - Return working directory name |
Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
| qalter |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Alter batch job |
|
| qdel |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Delete batch jobs |
|
| qhold |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Hold batch jobs |
|
| qmove |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Move batch jobs |
|
| qmsg |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Send message to batch jobs |
|
| qrerun |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Rerun batch jobs |
|
| qrls |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Release batch jobs |
|
| qselect |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Select batch jobs |
|
| qsig |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Signal batch jobs |
|
| qstat |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Show status of batch jobs |
|
| qsub |
Batch utilities |
Obscalescent (BE) |
Submit a script |
|
| read |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Read a line from standard input |
|
| renice |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Set nice values of running processes |
4BSD |
| rm |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Remove directory entries |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| rmdel |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Remove a delta from an SCCS file |
PWB UNIX |
| rmdir |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Remove directories, if they are empty. |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| sact |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Print current SCCS file-editing activity |
System III |
| sccs |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Front end for the SCCS subsystem |
4.3BSD |
| sed |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Stream editor |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| sh |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Shell, the standard command language interpreter |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX (in earlier versions, sh was either the Thompson shell or the PWB shell) |
| sleep |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Suspend execution for an interval |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| sort |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Sort, merge, or sequence check text files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| split |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Split files into pieces |
Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
| strings |
C programming |
Mandatory |
Find printable strings in files |
2BSD |
| strip |
C programming |
Optional (SD) |
Remove unnecessary information from executable files |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| stty |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Set the options for a terminal |
Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
| tabs |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Set terminal tabs |
PWB UNIX |
| tail |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Copy the last part of a file |
PWB UNIX[citation needed] |
| talk |
Misc |
Optional (UP) |
Talk to another user |
4.2BSD |
| tee |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Duplicate the standard output |
Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
| test |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Evaluate expression |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| time |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Time a simple command |
Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
| touch |
Filesystem |
Mandatory |
Change file access and modification times |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| tput |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Change terminal characteristics |
System V |
| tr |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Translate characters |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| true |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Return true value |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| tsort |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Topological sort |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| tty |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Return user's terminal name |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| type |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Displays how a name would be interpreted if used as a command |
|
| ulimit |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Set or report file size limit |
|
| umask |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Get or set the file mode creation mask |
System III |
| unalias |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Remove alias definitions |
|
| uname |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Return system name |
PWB UNIX |
| uncompress |
Misc |
Optional (XSI) |
Expand compressed data |
4.3BSD |
| unexpand |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Convert spaces to tabs |
3BSD |
| unget |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Undo a previous get of an SCCS file |
System III |
| uniq |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Report or filter out repeated lines in a file |
Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
| unlink |
Filesystem |
Optional (XSI) |
Call the unlink function |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| uucp |
Network |
Optional (UU) |
System-to-system copy |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| uudecode |
Network |
Mandatory |
Decode a binary file |
4BSD |
| uuencode |
Network |
Mandatory |
Encode a binary file |
4BSD |
| uustat |
Network |
Optional (UU) |
uucp status inquiry and job control |
System III |
| uux |
Process management |
Optional (UU) |
Remote command execution |
Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
| val |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Validate SCCS files |
System III |
| vi |
Text processing |
Optional (UP) |
Screen-oriented (visual) display editor |
1BSD |
| wait |
Process management |
Mandatory |
Await process completion |
Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
| wc |
Text processing |
Mandatory |
Line, word and byte or character count |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| what |
SCCS |
Optional (XSI) |
Identify SCCS files |
PWB UNIX |
| who |
System administration |
Mandatory |
Display who is on the system |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| write |
Misc |
Mandatory |
Write to another user's terminal |
Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
| xargs |
Shell programming |
Mandatory |
Construct argument lists and invoke utility |
PWB UNIX |
| yacc |
C programming |
Optional (CD) |
Yet another compiler compiler |
PWB UNIX |
| zcat |
Text processing |
Optional (XSI) |
Expand and concatenate data |
4.3BSD |