If you've been using Linux for a while whether casually or professionally you probably have a decent set of go-to commands. ls, cd, grep, top… the usual suspects. But did you know there are some hidden gems in the Linux command line that most people overlook?

In this post, I’ll walk you through five Linux commands you’ve likely never heard of, but should definitely add to your toolkit. These aren’t just esoteric trivia they’re practical tools that can save time, reduce errors, and even help with debugging or system monitoring.

Let’s dive in!

What Are the 5 Linux Commands You’ve Probably Never Heard Of?

These five commands might not be part of your daily routine, but each one has a unique niche where it shines. Whether you're a developer, sysadmin, or just a curious user, these tools will surprise you with their usefulness.

1. pv – Monitor Data Throughput in Real Time

Ever wanted to see how fast data is flowing through a pipeline? That's exactly what pv does. It stands for “Pipe Viewer,” and it shows progress bars, estimated time remaining, and throughput rates between commands.

For example:

pv file.txt | wc -l

This will show you how quickly file.txt is being read and passed to wc.

I once used pv to debug a slow backup script it turned out the bottleneck was in compression, not disk I/O.

2. ts – Add Timestamps to Command Output

The ts command from the moreutils package adds timestamps to every line of output. This is super handy when logging or debugging long-running processes.

Example:

ping google.com | ts

Now every ping result comes with a timestamp. This helped me track down intermittent network issues without manually parsing logs.

3. shuf – Randomize Lines in a File

Need to randomize the order of lines in a text file? shuf does exactly that. Want to pick a random winner from a list? Or shuffle a playlist?

For example:

shuf -n 1 names.txt

This picks a single random name from a file. Super simple, yet powerful.

4. cal – Calendar on Steroids

Yes, Linux has a built-in calendar tool called cal. But here’s the kicker: it can do more than just print the current month.

For example:

cal 12 2025

This displays December 2025’s calendar. You can also combine it with other commands for date calculations in scripts.

5. nl – Number Lines Like a Pro

If you’ve ever opened a log file and wished for line numbers, nl is your friend. It numbers lines in a file or stream, similar to cat -n, but with more options.

For example:

nl /var/log/syslog

This gives you a clean, numbered view of the syslog entries, making it easier to reference specific lines during troubleshooting.

Benefits of Using These Obscure Linux Commands

You might be wondering, “Why bother learning these?” Here’s why:

• Speed Up Debugging: Tools like pv and ts offer real-time insight into data flow and timing, which is invaluable when things aren't working as expected.
• Increase Efficiency: Commands like shuf and nl eliminate the need for custom scripts or external tools for common tasks.
• Better Visibility: cal and pv give you a clearer picture of what’s happening behind the scenes, especially in automation scripts or batch jobs.
• Expand Your Toolkit: Knowing these tools makes you a more versatile Linux user. You’ll start seeing new ways to solve old problems.

Conclusion

There you have it five Linux commands you probably didn’t know about, but now can’t live without. From tracking data flow with pv, adding timestamps with ts, randomizing lists with shuf, viewing calendars with cal, and numbering lines using nl, each of these tools brings something unique to the table.

Next time you're stuck trying to debug a script or parse a messy log file, remember these under-the-radar commands. They might just save your day or at least make your life a little easier.

Happy hacking!