Jump! Quick directory change at the command line
Jump! Quick directory change at the command line
Bd, autojump, and Fasd improve the workflow for command-line aficionados thanks to quick navigation in the filesystem.
With a little practice, working at the command line lets you feel the true power of Linux. However, the standard tools are not always as convenient as they are powerful, or as the user would hope.
If you frequently work at the command line, you most likely use the cd "change directory" command on a daily basis. In this article, I introduce a few helpers that promise greater convenience and speed, especially when changing directories in deeply nested paths. Bd, autojump, and Fasd are available as tools for different shells.
Inconvenient
The various Linux shells already provide some help with improved navigation in the command-line directory jungle, starting with finding out where you are. The pwd command helps by outputting your working directory's path. If you now want to jump up one or more levels, you can usually do this with:
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