I've spent years curating a collection of Mac bash aliases and shortcuts to make my life easier. My full .bash_profile is below, feel free to take whatever you find useful and put it to good use.
A (very) quick primer on .bash_profile for Mac Users
There is a hidden file in your Mac’s user directory named .bash_profile. This file is loaded before Terminal loads your shell environment and contains all the startup configuration and preferences for your command line interface. Within it you can change your terminal prompt, change the colors of text, add aliases to functions you use all the time, and so much more.
This file is often called a ‘dot file’ because the ‘.’ at the beginning of it’s name makes it invisible in the Mac Finder. You can view all invisible files in the Terminal by typing ls -al in any directory.
How to edit your .bash_profile
For the newly initiated, here’s how you can edit the .bash_profile on your Mac.
Step 1: Fire up Terminal.app
Step 2: Type nano .bash_profile – This command will open the .bash_profile document (or create it if it doesn’t already exist) in the easiest to use text editor in Terminal – Nano.
Step 3: Now you can make a simple change to the file. Paste these lines of code to change your Terminal prompt.
export PS1="___________________ | \w @ \h (\u) \n| => "
export PS2="| => "
Step 4: Now save your changes by typing ctrl +o Hit return to save. Then exit Nano by typing ctrl+x
Step 5: Now we need to *activate your changes. Type source .bash_profile and watch your prompt change.
My .bash_profile
I have been compiling my own set of aliases and configurations for years in which time I have borrowed copiously from others who have made their aliases available online. I can claim credit for very little of what follows. I recently became aware of alias.sh, a site making sharing BASH aliases easy. Check it out.
Update: Due to popular demand, my bash profile is now available as a Gist for your forking pleasure.
Without further ado, here is my .bash_profile:
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Description: This file holds all my BASH configurations and aliases
#
# Sections:
# 1. Environment Configuration
# 2. Make Terminal Better (remapping defaults and adding functionality)
# 3. File and Folder Management
# 4. Searching
# 5. Process Management
# 6. Networking
# 7. System Operations & Information
# 8. Web Development
# 9. Reminders & Notes
#
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# -------------------------------
# 1. ENVIRONMENT CONFIGURATION
# -------------------------------
# Change Prompt
# ------------------------------------------------------------
export PS1="________________________________________________________________________________\n| \w @ \h (\u) \n| => "
export PS2="| => "
# Set Paths
# ------------------------------------------------------------
export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/"
export PATH="/usr/local/git/bin:/sw/bin/:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/mysql/bin:$PATH"
# Set Default Editor (change 'Nano' to the editor of your choice)
# ------------------------------------------------------------
export EDITOR=/usr/bin/nano
# Set default blocksize for ls, df, du
# from this: https://hints.macworld.com/comment.php?mode=view&cid=24491
# ------------------------------------------------------------
export BLOCKSIZE=1k
# Add color to terminal
# (this is all commented out as I use Mac Terminal Profiles)
# from https://osxdaily.com/2012/02/21/add-color-to-the-terminal-in-mac-os-x/
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# export CLICOLOR=1
# export LSCOLORS=ExFxBxDxCxegedabagacad
# -----------------------------
# 2. MAKE TERMINAL BETTER
# -----------------------------
alias cp='cp -iv' # Preferred 'cp' implementation
alias mv='mv -iv' # Preferred 'mv' implementation
alias mkdir='mkdir -pv' # Preferred 'mkdir' implementation
alias ll='ls -FGlAhp' # Preferred 'ls' implementation
alias less='less -FSRXc' # Preferred 'less' implementation
cd() { builtin cd "$@"; ll; } # Always list directory contents upon 'cd'
alias cd..='cd ../' # Go back 1 directory level (for fast typers)
alias ..='cd ../' # Go back 1 directory level
alias ...='cd ../../' # Go back 2 directory levels
alias .3='cd ../../../' # Go back 3 directory levels
alias .4='cd ../../../../' # Go back 4 directory levels
alias .5='cd ../../../../../' # Go back 5 directory levels
alias .6='cd ../../../../../../' # Go back 6 directory levels
alias edit='subl' # edit: Opens any file in sublime editor
alias f='open -a Finder ./' # f: Opens current directory in MacOS Finder
alias ~="cd ~" # ~: Go Home
alias c='clear' # c: Clear terminal display
alias which='type -all' # which: Find executables
alias path='echo -e ${PATH//:/\\n}' # path: Echo all executable Paths
alias show_options='shopt' # Show_options: display bash options settings
alias fix_stty='stty sane' # fix_stty: Restore terminal settings when screwed up
alias cic='set completion-ignore-case On' # cic: Make tab-completion case-insensitive
mcd () { mkdir -p "$1" && cd "$1"; } # mcd: Makes new Dir and jumps inside
trash () { command mv "$@" ~/.Trash ; } # trash: Moves a file to the MacOS trash
ql () { qlmanage -p "$*" >& /dev/null; } # ql: Opens any file in MacOS Quicklook Preview
alias DT='tee ~/Desktop/terminalOut.txt' # DT: Pipe content to file on MacOS Desktop
# lr: Full Recursive Directory Listing
# ------------------------------------------
alias lr='ls -R | grep ":$" | sed -e '\''s/:$//'\'' -e '\''s/[^-][^\/]*\//--/g'\'' -e '\''s/^/ /'\'' -e '\''s/-/|/'\'' | less'
# mans: Search manpage given in agument '1' for term given in argument '2' (case insensitive)
# displays paginated result with colored search terms and two lines surrounding each hit. Example: mans mplayer codec
# --------------------------------------------------------------------
mans () {
man $1 | grep -iC2 --color=always $2 | less
}
# showa: to remind yourself of an alias (given some part of it)
# ------------------------------------------------------------
showa () { /usr/bin/grep --color=always -i -a1 $@ ~/Library/init/bash/aliases.bash | grep -v '^\s*$' | less -FSRXc ; }
# -------------------------------
# 3. FILE AND FOLDER MANAGEMENT
# -------------------------------
zipf () { zip -r "$1".zip "$1" ; } # zipf: To create a ZIP archive of a folder
alias numFiles='echo $(ls -1 | wc -l)' # numFiles: Count of non-hidden files in current dir
alias make1mb='mkfile 1m ./1MB.dat' # make1mb: Creates a file of 1mb size (all zeros)
alias make5mb='mkfile 5m ./5MB.dat' # make5mb: Creates a file of 5mb size (all zeros)
alias make10mb='mkfile 10m ./10MB.dat' # make10mb: Creates a file of 10mb size (all zeros)
# cdf: 'Cd's to frontmost window of MacOS Finder
# ------------------------------------------------------
cdf () {
currFolderPath=$( /usr/bin/osascript <<EOT
tell application "Finder"
try
set currFolder to (folder of the front window as alias)
on error
set currFolder to (path to desktop folder as alias)
end try
POSIX path of currFolder
end tell
EOT
)
echo "cd to \"$currFolderPath\""
cd "$currFolderPath"
}
# extract: Extract most know archives with one command
# ---------------------------------------------------------
extract () {
if [ -f $1 ] ; then
case $1 in
*.tar.bz2) tar xjf $1 ;;
*.tar.gz) tar xzf $1 ;;
*.bz2) bunzip2 $1 ;;
*.rar) unrar e $1 ;;
*.gz) gunzip $1 ;;
*.tar) tar xf $1 ;;
*.tbz2) tar xjf $1 ;;
*.tgz) tar xzf $1 ;;
*.zip) unzip $1 ;;
*.Z) uncompress $1 ;;
*.7z) 7z x $1 ;;
*) echo "'$1' cannot be extracted via extract()" ;;
esac
else
echo "'$1' is not a valid file"
fi
}
# ---------------------------
# 4. SEARCHING
# ---------------------------
alias qfind="find . -name " # qfind: Quickly search for file
ff () { /usr/bin/find . -name "$@" ; } # ff: Find file under the current directory
ffs () { /usr/bin/find . -name "$@"'*' ; } # ffs: Find file whose name starts with a given string
ffe () { /usr/bin/find . -name '*'"$@" ; } # ffe: Find file whose name ends with a given string
# spotlight: Search for a file using MacOS Spotlight's metadata
# -----------------------------------------------------------
spotlight () { mdfind "kMDItemDisplayName == '$@'wc"; }
# ---------------------------
# 5. PROCESS MANAGEMENT
# ---------------------------
# findPid: find out the pid of a specified process
# -----------------------------------------------------
# Note that the command name can be specified via a regex
# E.g. findPid '/d$/' finds pids of all processes with names ending in 'd'
# Without the 'sudo' it will only find processes of the current user
# -----------------------------------------------------
findPid () { lsof -t -c "$@" ; }
# memHogsTop, memHogsPs: Find memory hogs
# -----------------------------------------------------
alias memHogsTop='top -l 1 -o rsize | head -20'
alias memHogsPs='ps wwaxm -o pid,stat,vsize,rss,time,command | head -10'
# cpuHogs: Find CPU hogs
# -----------------------------------------------------
alias cpu_hogs='ps wwaxr -o pid,stat,%cpu,time,command | head -10'
# topForever: Continual 'top' listing (every 10 seconds)
# -----------------------------------------------------
alias topForever='top -l 9999999 -s 10 -o cpu'
# ttop: Recommended 'top' invocation to minimize resources
# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Taken from this macosxhints article
# https://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060816123853639
# ------------------------------------------------------------
alias ttop="top -R -F -s 10 -o rsize"
# my_ps: List processes owned by my user:
# ------------------------------------------------------------
my_ps() { ps $@ -u $USER -o pid,%cpu,%mem,start,time,bsdtime,command ; }
# ---------------------------
# 6. NETWORKING
# ---------------------------
alias myip='curl ip.appspot.com' # myip: Public facing IP Address
alias netCons='lsof -i' # netCons: Show all open TCP/IP sockets
alias flushDNS='dscacheutil -flushcache' # flushDNS: Flush out the DNS Cache
alias lsock='sudo /usr/sbin/lsof -i -P' # lsock: Display open sockets
alias lsockU='sudo /usr/sbin/lsof -nP | grep UDP' # lsockU: Display only open UDP sockets
alias lsockT='sudo /usr/sbin/lsof -nP | grep TCP' # lsockT: Display only open TCP sockets
alias ipInfo0='ipconfig getpacket en0' # ipInfo0: Get info on connections for en0
alias ipInfo1='ipconfig getpacket en1' # ipInfo1: Get info on connections for en1
alias openPorts='sudo lsof -i | grep LISTEN' # openPorts: All listening connections
alias showBlocked='sudo ipfw list' # showBlocked: All ipfw rules inc/ blocked IPs
# ii: display useful host related informaton
# -------------------------------------------------------------------
ii() {
echo -e "\nYou are logged on ${RED}$HOST"
echo -e "\nAdditionnal information:$NC " ; uname -a
echo -e "\n${RED}Users logged on:$NC " ; w -h
echo -e "\n${RED}Current date :$NC " ; date
echo -e "\n${RED}Machine stats :$NC " ; uptime
echo -e "\n${RED}Current network location :$NC " ; scselect
echo -e "\n${RED}Public facing IP Address :$NC " ;myip
#echo -e "\n${RED}DNS Configuration:$NC " ; scutil --dns
echo
}
# ---------------------------------------
# 7. SYSTEMS OPERATIONS & INFORMATION
# ---------------------------------------
alias mountReadWrite='/sbin/mount -uw /' # mountReadWrite: For use when booted into single-user
# cleanupDS: Recursively delete .DS_Store files
# -------------------------------------------------------------------
alias cleanupDS="find . -type f -name '*.DS_Store' -ls -delete"
# finderShowHidden: Show hidden files in Finder
# finderHideHidden: Hide hidden files in Finder
# -------------------------------------------------------------------
alias finderShowHidden='defaults write com.apple.finder ShowAllFiles TRUE'
alias finderHideHidden='defaults write com.apple.finder ShowAllFiles FALSE'
# cleanupLS: Clean up LaunchServices to remove duplicates in the "Open With" menu
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
alias cleanupLS="/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user && killall Finder"
# screensaverDesktop: Run a screensaver on the Desktop
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
alias screensaverDesktop='/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background'
# ---------------------------------------
# 8. WEB DEVELOPMENT
# ---------------------------------------
alias apacheEdit='sudo edit /etc/httpd/httpd.conf' # apacheEdit: Edit httpd.conf
alias apacheRestart='sudo apachectl graceful' # apacheRestart: Restart Apache
alias editHosts='sudo edit /etc/hosts' # editHosts: Edit /etc/hosts file
alias herr='tail /var/log/httpd/error_log' # herr: Tails HTTP error logs
alias apacheLogs="less +F /var/log/apache2/error_log" # Apachelogs: Shows apache error logs
httpHeaders () { /usr/bin/curl -I -L $@ ; } # httpHeaders: Grabs headers from web page
# httpDebug: Download a web page and show info on what took time
# -------------------------------------------------------------------
httpDebug () { /usr/bin/curl $@ -o /dev/null -w "dns: %{time_namelookup} connect: %{time_connect} pretransfer: %{time_pretransfer} starttransfer: %{time_starttransfer} total: %{time_total}\n" ; }
# ---------------------------------------
# 9. REMINDERS & NOTES
# ---------------------------------------
# remove_disk: spin down unneeded disk
# ---------------------------------------
# diskutil eject /dev/disk1s3
# to change the password on an encrypted disk image:
# ---------------------------------------
# hdiutil chpass /path/to/the/diskimage
# to mount a read-only disk image as read-write:
# ---------------------------------------
# hdiutil attach example.dmg -shadow /tmp/example.shadow -noverify
# mounting a removable drive (of type msdos or hfs)
# ---------------------------------------
# mkdir /Volumes/Foo
# ls /dev/disk* to find out the device to use in the mount command)
# mount -t msdos /dev/disk1s1 /Volumes/Foo
# mount -t hfs /dev/disk1s1 /Volumes/Foo
# to create a file of a given size: /usr/sbin/mkfile or /usr/bin/hdiutil
# ---------------------------------------
# e.g.: mkfile 10m 10MB.dat
# e.g.: hdiutil create -size 10m 10MB.dmg
# the above create files that are almost all zeros - if random bytes are desired
# then use: ~/Dev/Perl/randBytes 1048576 > 10MB.dat
Update: If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
- A shell script boilerplate template
- A collection of Bash scripting utilities I compiled to make custom Bash programming easier.