Platform-independent toolkit – Swiss File Knife

If you work on the command line, you inevitably use many utilities and tools, all of which work differently, especially if you have to switch between operating systems. To simplify your life, take a look at Swiss File Knife (SFK) [1]: This tool replaces many conventional command-line programs with functions that operate consistently and follow the same syntax across operating systems. Additionally, SFK offers a way to combine individual commands in scripts. A short overview of the tool's many options is given in the "Swiss File Knife Capabilities" box.

SFK is available as a precompiled program with no dependencies, so you can take it anywhere you like on a USB stick and use it for on-site maintenance or rescue work. In addition to 32- and 64-bit binaries for Linux, you will find versions for the Raspberry Pi and other ARM machines, as well as Windows and Mac OS X, allowing you to work on all the major systems with the same tool.

Choosing your Weapons

All versions of SFK can be found on the tool's SourceForge page [2] below Files | 1-swissfileknife | <version> (v1.7.2 when this issue went to press). In the list, then click on the EXE file for your system, which you can identify by looking at the file name.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Command Line: File Management

    Do some serious spring cleaning and reorganize your data. The right commands can help you to keep on top of your file and directory management.

  • Free Software Projects

    If you want to convert a bunch of audio files into another format and prefer to steer clear of the command line, the Gnac graphical tool might do the trick. Also, the Gourmet Recipe Manager helps out in the kitchen.

  • Swiss Army Knife

    Pandoc lets you convert files from one markup format to another at the command line.

  • Czkawka

    Czkawka helps find and remove duplicate and obsolete files to free up valuable disk space.

  • Fsniper

    Every day, computers are inundated with hundreds of files. Fsniper welcomes the new arrivals and processes them according to rules that you define.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News