5 Essential Linux Utilities Every DevOps Engineer Should Master

In the world of DevOps, Linux is the backbone of modern infrastructure. Whether you are managing servers, deploying applications, or automating workflows, mastering the right Linux utilities can make your job easier and more efficient. Here are 5 must-know Linux utilities every DevOps engineer should have in their toolkit.

1. tmux – Terminal Multiplexer

Why it matters:

tmux

allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions within a single window. For DevOps engineers, it’s perfect for monitoring logs, running background tasks, and keeping persistent sessions even after disconnection.

Key Features:

Create, split, and switch between multiple panes.
Persistent sessions across SSH.
Ideal for remote server management.

Example Command: ' tmux new -s devops_session '

2. htop – Interactive Process Viewer

Why it matters:

htop

provides a real-time, interactive view of system processes. Unlike the basic

top

command,

htop

offers a color-coded, user-friendly interface that helps quickly identify resource-hogging processes.

Key Features:

Visual CPU, memory, and process usage.
Easy navigation with arrow keys.
Kill or renice processes directly from the interface.

Example Command: ' htop '

3. ncdu – Disk Usage Analyzer

Why it matters: Storage issues can cause downtime and failed deployments.

ncdu

(NCurses Disk Usage) helps analyze disk space usage quickly in a visual, text-based interface.

Key Features:

Lightweight and fast disk usage scanning.
Interactive navigation to identify large files.
Great for troubleshooting “no space left” errors.

Example Command: ' ncdu / '

4. jq – JSON Processor

Why it matters: In DevOps, APIs and logs often return JSON outputs.

jq

allows you to parse, filter, and transform JSON data directly in the command line.

Key Features:

Extract specific JSON fields.
Pretty-print JSON for readability.
Automate API data handling in scripts.

Example Command: ' curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/devops | jq ".name" '

5. rsync – File Synchronization Tool

Why it matters:

rsync

is a powerful utility for synchronizing files and directories between systems. It’s widely used in backups, deployments, and data transfers.

Key Features:

Incremental file transfers (only changes are copied).
Supports SSH for secure transfers.
Efficient for backups and mirroring.

Example Command: ' rsync -avz /local/path user@remote:/remote/path '

🔑 Final Thoughts

Linux utilities are the unsung heroes of DevOps workflows. By mastering tools like

tmux

htop

ncdu

jq

, and

rsync

, you can drastically improve efficiency, troubleshoot issues faster, and manage infrastructure with confidence.

👉 Which of these utilities do you already use in your DevOps journey?