Great tools, written in Rust

See bottom for installation instructions and web links.

Here are my Top 10 :)

10. List files and directories -- with icons and Git status

Use eza instead of ls or tree.

$ eza --icons

Here in tree-view mode, with icons, Git status, and a different color theme:

Note: Make sure you do not have $LS_COLORS set in your environment, as this will override the theme colors!

9. Print file content -- with syntax highlighting and Git diff

Use bat instead of cat/more/less to print files.

Note: Debian/Ubuntu install the executable under the name batcat.

$ bat main.rs          # or "batcat main.rs" on Debian/Ubuntu

8. Calculator and unit converter -- supporting currencies

Use fend instead of bc.

$ fend

7. Show system load -- incl. disks, network and temperature

Use btm (bottom) instead of top.

$ btm

6. Identify duplicate files -- and replace them by hardlinks

Use fclones to determine redundant file copies.

Pipe its output into another fclones-instance to apply deduplication:

$ fclones group .

$ fclones group . | fclones link

5. Replace strings in files -- incl. regular expressions

Use ruplacer instead of find and sed constructs.

Note: By default, works recursively on all files, and in regex mode.
Pass "--no-regex" to search and replace strings containing parentheses etc., such as "Copyright (c)" notes.

Performs a dry-run by default. Pass the --go option to actually change the files:

$ ruplacer [--no-regex] [--go] <OLD> <NEW> [WHERE]

4. Automate dependent tasks -- but simpler than with Makefiles

Use just instead of make.

Create a Justfile (or hidden .juSTfiLe) that describes the tasks and their dependencies:

3. A simpler find -- with .gitignore support

Use fd instead of find.

If provided, runs the specified command for each matching file.

$ fd [PATTERN]                     # or "fdfind [PATTERN]" on Debian/Ubuntu

$ fd [PATTERN] [-X command]

Note: Debian/Ubuntu install the executable under the name fdfind.

2. Pimp your shell -- with an informative prompt

Use the starship prompt modifier to display useful information, e.g. the Git status.

It is best used together with a so-called "nerd font" (fonts enhanced with thousands of icons).

1. Reduce typing -- with a smart lean shell

Use fish instead of bash.

Press "➡️" to accept the command suggestion.

Installation

As normal user:

1. Install Rust toolchain:

   $ curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh
   $ source "${HOME}/.cargo/env"

2. Install tools:

   $ cargo install eza fclones just ruplacer starship

3. Set up nerd font:

   $ mkdir -p ~/.local/share/fonts && cd ~/.local/share/fonts
   $ curl https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases/latest/download/JetBrainsMono.tar.xz
   $ tar xvf JetBrainsMono.tar.xz
   $ fc-cache -f -v

   As a last step, configure your terminal to use "JetBrainsMono Nerd Font".

4. Set up starship:

   $ starship preset pastel-powerline -o ~/.config/starship.toml

   Try it by running the activation command. You can add it to the end of your shell configuration file if you want to use it permanently:

   Shell type	Bash	Fish
   Activation	eval "$(starship init bash)"	starship init fish | source
   Config file	~/.bashrc	~/.config/fish/config.fish

5. Set up eza color theme

   Pick one from: https://github.com/eza-community/eza-themes, e.g. "Rosé Pine"

   $ mkdir -p ~/.config/eza
   $ cd ~/.config/eza
   $ curl -o theme.yml https://raw.githubusercontent.com/eza-community/eza-themes/refs/heads/main/themes/rose-pine.yml

As admin

$ apt-get update
$ apt-get install bat btm eza fd-find fish
$ snap install fclones

Note: Ubuntu 22.04 ships with a version of eza that does not yet support color themes.

Haven't had enough, yet??

OK, I've got something for you: tools-2.md :)

Weblinks

• bat: https://github.com/sharkdp/bat
• btm: https://github.com/ClementTsang/bottom
• eza: https://github.com/eza-community/eza
• fclones: https://github.com/pkolaczk/fclones
• fdfind: https://github.com/sharkdp/fd
• fend: https://github.com/printfn/fend
• fish: https://fishshell.com
• just: https://github.com/casey/just/tree/master
• Nerd fonts: https://www.nerdfonts.com
• ruplacer: https://github.com/your-tools/ruplacer
• starship: https://starship.rs