How do you simultaneously write a command line and read the syntax of
that command?
reddit / freebsd

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claudi_m · 2021-04-14 14:54

I admit I'm a bit embarrassed asking this after so many years working
with *nix shells... When I want to type a command in the command line
(I mean complex commands) but I don't know its syntax, I read
itsmanpage. Then I use a pen and a paper to write down the command
line and then I leave the manpage to effectively enter the command
line in the shell. My question is: is there any way to do this without
the need of a pen and a paper?

EDIT: assume no GUI desktop. Just the console.

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urglecom · 2021-04-14 15:04

You can cut'n'paste in the text console too - if you have a mouse
plugged in.  Failing that tux or similar so you can flip between the
man page a shell.

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Gornergy · 2021-04-14 15:26

tmux

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[deleted] · 2021-04-14 16:00

Tmux will work good for this

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[deleted] · 2021-04-14 16:00

Use tmux

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gumnos · 2021-04-14 17:10

While I'm a `tmux` user like others here, if all you have is the
actual console (not an SSH session), you have multiple virtual-
terminals you can switch between using control+alt+F{1..8} so you can
switch to one you're not using, log in, and consult the man-page
there, then switch back to the previous one to continue editing the
command.

If you *do* SSH in, you can open another local terminal and SSH a 2nd
time from there.

That said, if it's *not* the actual console but rather either a serial
line or single SSH connection, `tmux` (or GNU `screen`) offers similar
options using a prefix key. And even when I *do* have the pure console
where ctrl+alt+Fn works, I still prefer `tmux` since my fingers only
have to learn one set of keybindings (there are other nice features
like detaching & reattaching, clipboard access to copy/paste between
windows, activity/silence monitoring, split windows, etc).

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claudi_m · 2021-04-14 19:38

Thanks to everybody for the tmux suggestion. I had no idea of its
existence!

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da_peda · 2021-04-14 22:11

Since everyone already suggested `tmux` I'll try something different:
`zsh`, simply because it has (IMO) the best TAB autocomplete around,
even for switches (as long as you don't need an in-depth explanation
but just something to jog your memory).

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stepan_pavlov · 2021-04-15 05:28

Good question! I have a lot of papers with commands written on them.

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daemonpenguin · 2021-04-15 13:03

As some people pointed out, a tool like screen or tmux can help. Or if
you're seated at a terminal you can use CTRL+ALT+F1-6 to switch
between terminals. I will sometimes have one terminal open for
commands and another for reading or checking notes.