Add custom commands to your terminal

Terminal hacks

As a software developer, I've found that the terminal is an invaluable tool for automating common tasks. Whether it's building an application, archiving files, or managing workflows, custom terminal commands can significantly boost your productivity.

In this guide, I'll show you how to create and set up custom commands that you can use across different machines.

Why Custom Commands?

Custom commands allow you to:

  • Automate repetitive tasks
  • Standardize workflows across different machines
  • Save time on common development operations
  • Create shortcuts for complex command sequences

Setting Up Custom Commands

Follow these steps to create and configure your custom commands:

  1. Create a Shell Script

    • Create a new .sh file (e.g., custom-commands.sh)
    • Write your custom commands using shell scripting
    • Make the file executable using chmod +x custom-commands.sh

  2. Choose a Location

    • Store your script in a memorable location (e.g., ~/custom_scripts/)
    • Note down the full path to your script

  3. Configure Your Shell

    • Open your shell configuration file:
      • For Zsh: ~/.zshrc
      • For Bash: ~/.bashrc
    • If the file doesn't exist, create it in your home directory

  4. Source Your Script

    • Add this line to your shell config file: 
      source ~/custom_scripts/custom-commands.sh

  5. Activate Changes

    • Open a new terminal window
    • Or run source ~/.zshrc (for Zsh) or source ~/.bashrc (for Bash)
    • Test your custom commands

How It Works

When you start a new terminal session, your shell automatically reads the configuration file, either .zshrc for Zsh users or .bashrc for Bash users. This file serves as the foundation for your terminal environment.

Within this configuration file, if the shell encounters the source command, it will load and execute the custom commands you have defined in your script. This process makes those commands available to you as if they were built-in terminal commands.

The beauty of this setup is that you only need to define each custom command once. After that, it will be accessible in every new terminal session you open. This leads to enhanced productivity, as you can create permanent and reusable commands tailored to your workflow.

Pro Tip

Keep your custom commands script in version control or cloud storage. This makes it easy to set up your preferred environment on any new machine you work with.