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ls-h: Human-Readable File Size Display

ls-h is not a standard Linux command, but it is often used as a custom alias or script for conveniently using the 'ls -h' command. The primary purpose of this command is to display the sizes of files and directories in a human-readable format, such as KB, MB, GB.

Overview

ls-h is a custom command that performs the function of 'ls -h', converting file sizes into units like 1024 bytes (K), 1048576 bytes (M), etc., for output. This is very useful for quickly grasping the size of large files or directories.

Key Features

  • Displays file sizes in human-readable units (K, M, G)
  • Same functionality as the '-h' option of the standard 'ls' command
  • Primarily used as a custom alias or script for user convenience

Key Options

Since ls-h itself incorporates the functionality of 'ls -h', it doesn't have separate unique options but can be used in conjunction with other options of the 'ls' command. The options described here are options of the 'ls' command, which can be utilized when ls-h is used as an alias for 'ls -h'.

Display/Format

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Description:

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Usage Examples

Since ls-h is primarily used as an alias for 'ls -h', the examples below demonstrate the usage of 'ls -h'. If the ls-h alias is set up, you can get the same results by typing 'ls-h' instead of 'ls -h'.

Display File Sizes in Current Directory

ls -h

Displays the sizes of files and directories in the current directory in human-readable units.

Display File Sizes with Detailed Information

ls -lh

Displays file sizes in human-readable format along with detailed information (permissions, owner, etc.).

Display Sizes Including Hidden Files in a Specific Directory

ls -ah /var/log

Displays the sizes of all items, including hidden files, in a specified directory in human-readable units.

Installation

ls-h is not a command that is installed by default on the system. To conveniently use the functionality of 'ls -h', you can set up a custom alias or create a simple shell script.

Setting an Alias

alias ls-h='ls -h'

To use 'ls-h' as an alias for 'ls -h' during a shell session, enter the following command. For permanent use, you need to add it to your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc).

Permanent Alias Setup (Bash/Zsh)

echo "alias ls-h='ls -h'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Add the alias command above to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc file and apply the changes.

Creating a Simple Shell Script

echo '#!/bin/bash\nls -h "$@"' > ~/bin/ls-h\nchmod +x ~/bin/ls-h

You can also create an executable script to make the 'ls-h' command. Create a script file, grant it execute permissions, and then save it in a directory included in your PATH (e.g., ~/bin).

Tips & Notes

Useful tips and points to note when using ls-h.

Combination with Other ls Options

If ls-h is an alias for 'ls -h', you can freely combine it with other useful options of the 'ls' command (e.g., -l, -a, -t, -r). For example, you can use it like 'ls-h -lat'.

  • ls-h -l: Displays human-readable sizes with detailed information
  • ls-h -a: Displays human-readable sizes including hidden files
  • ls-h -t: Displays sorted by time with human-readable sizes

Alias vs. Script

For simple functions, an alias is convenient. However, if more complex logic or additional argument processing is required, a script approach is more flexible. In most cases, an alias for 'ls -h' is sufficient.


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