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locate — Fast Filename Search

Uses a pre-built database — much faster than find for filename lookups.

locate nginx.conf             # find files named nginx.conf
locate -i readme              # case-insensitive
locate "*.log"                # by pattern
locate -n 10 config           # limit to 10 results

# Update the database (needed after new files are created)
sudo updatedb

Caveat: results can be stale — use find when you need guaranteed freshness.

fd — Modern find Alternative

Faster, simpler syntax, ignores .git and node_modules by default.

fd                            # list all files recursively
fd .ts                        # files with .ts extension
fd config                     # files named "config" (fuzzy)
fd -e yaml                    # by extension
fd -t d src                   # directories named "src"
fd -H .env                    # include hidden files
fd --exclude node_modules     # exclude a directory
fd ".*\.test\.ts" src/        # regex pattern in src/

ripgrep (rg) — Modern grep Alternative

Much faster than grep, respects .gitignore, skips binaries automatically.

rg "TODO"                     # search current dir recursively
rg -i "error"                 # case-insensitive
rg "useState" src/            # search in a specific directory
rg -t ts "useEffect"          # only TypeScript files
rg -l "import React"          # filenames only
rg -n "port"                  # with line numbers
rg --no-ignore "secret"       # don't respect .gitignore
rg -C 3 "panic"               # 3 lines of context
rg -e "foo" -e "bar"          # multiple patterns (OR)
rg --hidden "config"          # include hidden files

cd -                          # go back to previous directory
cd ~                          # go to home directory
pushd /some/dir               # push dir onto stack and cd to it
popd                          # pop and return to previous dir
dirs                          # list directory stack

Tree — Visual Directory Structure

tree                          # show full tree
tree -L 2                     # limit to 2 levels deep
tree -a                       # include hidden files
tree -d                       # directories only
tree --gitignore              # respect .gitignore
tree -I "node_modules|dist"   # exclude patterns

fzf — Fuzzy Finder (Interactive)

Fuzzy search for anything piped into it.

# Interactive file search
find . -type f | fzf

# Search and open in vim
vim $(fzf)

# Search command history interactively (replaces Ctrl+R)
history | fzf

# Preview file contents while searching
fzf --preview 'cat {}'

# Search git branches
git branch | fzf

Tips

Use rg instead of grep -r — it’s faster and smarter about what to skip.
Use fd instead of find for simple filename lookups — less syntax to remember.
locate is instant for “where is this config file?” but run sudo updatedb if files are missing.
fzf transforms any list-based workflow — pipe anything into it for interactive filtering.

← Linux