A simplified documentation command
Command Line – tldr
A simplified alternative to man pages, tldr provides the most common command options at a glance.
Too long; didn't read (TL;DR) is a flippant Internet acronym for a summary that first came into use about a decade ago. It seems to be falling out of fashion but survives in tldr
, the newest command and format for computer documentation. It is far from the first documentation command, but it fills a niche as a cheat sheet for the most common options for commands.
The most common documentation format, of course, is the man page, which dates back to 1971 (Figure 1). Man pages cover commands, libraries, and configuration files, usually aiming for an encyclopedia-like summary of their topics. One great advantage is that the pages are highly organized, arranged in nine sections ranging from user commands and system calls to system administration calls, kernel routines, and daemons. Each page presents information in a rigid format divided into further sections (see Table 1), although not all sections are mandatory. The Examples, Notes, and Bugs sections, for example, are frequently omitted. This consistent structure compensates for the often overwhelming detail of some man pages, which can be over 1,000 lines long.
GNU projects provide Info pages that have a similar purpose to man pages and often use more user-friendly language. However, they can be less structured and concise and have not caught on nearly as much. In fact, even GNU projects often maintain both formats. The main advantage of Info pages is that they can be read in Emacs using a mouse.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
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.
News
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.