The Command Line Interface (CLI) is a way of interacting with your computer. To harness all the power of Linux, it’s highly recommended mastering the interface. It’s true the CLI is often perceived as a barrier for users migrating to Linux, particularly if they’re grown up using GUI software exclusively. While Linux rarely forces anyone to use the CLI, some tasks are better suited to this method of interaction, offering inducements like superior scripting opportunities, remote access, and being far more frugal with a computer’s resources.
ls is a command to list computer files. ls is specified by POSIX and the Single UNIX Specification. When invoked without any arguments, ls lists the files in the current working directory.
The GNU Core Utilities or coreutils is a package of GNU software containing implementations for many of the basic tools, such as cat, ls, and rm, which are used on Unix-like operating systems.
There are many enterprising developers that look to update and enhance many of the commands available in coreutils. ls is no exception.
Here’s our recommended replacements for ls. They are all command-line programs published under an open source license.
Let’s explore the 10 ‘ls’ tools at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot of the software in action, together with links to relevant resources.
| ls alternatives | Programming Language | License |
|---|---|---|
| eza | Rust | MIT License |
| exa | Rust | MIT License |
| lsd | Rust | Apache License 2.0 |
| colorls | Ruby | MIT License |
| ls++ | Perl | Perl/artistic license |
| ls-go | Go | MIT License |
| k | Shell | MIT License |
| Natls | Rust | MIT License |
| g | Go | MIT License |
| logo-ls | Go | MIT License |
If you are happy with ls but want the ability to configure the colors, check out lscoltui.
All the CLI tools in this series.
| Alternatives to CLI tools |
|---|
| age // awk // bc // cal // cat // cd // chmod // cksum // cloc // cmp // compress // cp // cron // curl // cut // date // dd // df // diff // dig // du // fdisk // find // ftp // grep // gzip // hexdump // history // jq // kill // less // locate // ls // lsof // make // man // more // mv / ping // ps // psql // rename // rm // sed // split // ssh // strings // sudo // sysctl // tail // talk // tar // telnet // time // top // touch // traceroute // tree // uname // uniq // uptime // vi // watch // Wget // who // whois // xargs |
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |
Please add nav, it’s a Go-based terminal navigator.
We’ll add nav, but it’s not a replacement for ls. It’s a very simple utility to navigate through directories.