How to use the command 'exa' (with examples)

The ’exa’ command is a modern replacement for the ’ls’ command, used to list directory contents. It provides a more user-friendly and feature-rich interface compared to ’ls'.

Use case 1: List files one per line

Code:

exa --oneline

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want a simple and compact list of files, with each file displayed on a separate line.

Explanation:

• --oneline: This option displays each file on a single line, making it easier to read.

Example output:

file1.txt
file2.jpg
file3.py

Use case 2: List all files, including hidden files

Code:

exa --all

Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to see all the files in a directory, including hidden files that start with a dot (e.g., .gitignore).

Explanation:

• --all: This option displays all files, including hidden files.

Example output:

file1.txt
file2.jpg
.hidden_file

Use case 3: Long format list of all files

Code:

exa --long --all

Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you need detailed information about the files, such as permissions, ownership, size, and modification date.

Explanation:

• --long: This option displays the files in a long format, providing additional information.
• --all: This option displays all files, including hidden files.

Example output:

-rw-r--r--  1 user  group  1024 Oct 25 09:30 file1.txt
-rw-r--r--  1 user  group  2048 Oct 24 14:18 file2.jpg

Use case 4: List files with the largest at the top

Code:

exa --reverse --sort=size

Motivation: When dealing with large files, it can be helpful to list them in descending order based on their sizes, with the largest files at the top.

Explanation:

• --reverse: This option reverses the order of the file listing.
• --sort=size: This option sorts the files based on their sizes.

Example output:

file3.mp4
file2.mov
file1.avi

Use case 5: Display a tree of files, three levels deep

Code:

exa --long --tree --level=3

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to visualize the directory structure and explore the files and folders within it.

Explanation:

• --long: This option displays the files in a long format, providing additional information.
• --tree: This option displays the directory structure as a tree.
• --level=3: This option limits the depth of the tree to three levels.

Example output:

.
├── folder1
│   ├── file1.txt
│   ├── file2.jpg
│   └── folder2
└── folder3

Use case 6: List files sorted by modification date (oldest first)

Code:

exa --long --sort=modified

Motivation: Sorting files by modification date can be useful when you want to identify the recently modified files or track changes in a folder over time.

Explanation:

• --long: This option displays the files in a long format, providing additional information.
• --sort=modified: This option sorts the files based on their modification dates.

Example output:

Oct 20 08:45 file1.txt
Oct 22 14:18 file2.jpg
Oct 25 09:30 file3.py

Use case 7: List files with their headers, icons, and Git statuses

Code:

exa --long --header --icons --git

Motivation: When working with Git repositories, this use case allows you to list the files along with their headers, icons representing file types, and Git statuses.

Explanation:

• --long: This option displays the files in a long format, providing additional information.
• --header: This option displays a header row at the top of the file listing.
• --icons: This option displays icons representing file types.
• --git: This option displays Git status information for each file.

Example output:

Permissions User  Group  Size Modified              Icon  Git Status  Name
-rw-r--r--   user  group  1024 Oct 25 09:30      📄                file1.txt
-rw-r--r--   user  group  2048 Oct 24 14:18      📷                file2.jpg

Use case 8: Don’t list files mentioned in .gitignore

Code:

exa --git-ignore

Motivation: This use case is handy when you want to exclude files mentioned in the .gitignore file from the file listing.

Explanation:

• --git-ignore: This option excludes files mentioned in the .gitignore file from the listing.

Example output:

file1.txt
file2.jpg

Conclusion:

The ’exa’ command is a feature-rich replacement for the ’ls’ command. It provides various options to customize the file listing output, making it more versatile and user-friendly. Whether you need a simple file listing or detailed information, ’exa’ has you covered.