Graphical interfaces come and go, but the command line is forever—and in 2025, the Linux CLI scene is more intelligent and more capable than ever. Whether you’re managing servers or just trying to get things done faster, the right terminal tools can upgrade your entire Linux experience.
Here are five powerful CLI tools that deserve a permanent place in your toolkit this year.
1. Ripgrep—The Search Tool That Makes grep Feel Slow
If you still rely on plain grep for searching code, configs, or system files, it’s time to try ripgrep. Ripgrep (rg) is a modern drop-in replacement for grep.
Why It’s Great
- Incredibly fast
- Respects .gitignore files automatically
- Smart defaults (recursive search, sensible output)
- Integrates with VS Code, Helix, and Neovim
2. fzf—Fuzzy Finder for Everything
fzf is a fuzzy finder for the command-line. The longer you use it, the more you wonder how you lived without it.
What It Can Do
- Fuzzy-search file names
- Fuzzy-search command history
- Fuzzy-search running processes
- Create interactive pickers for your own scripts
3. bat—The Better cat
cat is fine, but bat is better. It’s a drop-in replacement that adds modern features without changing your workflow.
Features
- Syntax highlighting
- Git integration
- Line numbers
- Automatic paging with less
Bonus: Works beautifully with ripgrep and fzf for a hyper-efficient terminal workflow.
4. eza—Modern Replacement for ls
ls gets the job done, but eza (formerly exa) gives you a more readable view of your file system.
What You Get
- Colorized output
- Tree views
- Git status indicators
- Optional file icons
- Better sorting options
Why You’ll Love It
Directory browsing will feel fun.
5. fastfetch—System Info With Style
Fastfetch is the spiritual successor to Neofetch—rewritten for performance, aesthetics, and modern systems.
Highlights
- Extremely fast (written in C)
- Beautiful ASCII logos
- Highly configurable
- Works on nearly all distros
Perfect For: Showing off your Linux setup.
Honorable Mentions
Zoxide: A smarter cd that learns your frequently used directories.
fd: A modern replacement for find—fast, intuitive, and colorized.
Final Thoughts
The Linux command line isn’t just a place to type commands—it’s a launchpad for automation, efficiency, and mastery. These five tools make Linux faster, more powerful, and more enjoyable in 2025.
