Step-by-Step Tutorial to Make Shortcuts in Linux Using Command Line

Well, if ya wanna make a shortcut in Linux, there ain’t no need to worry, it’s real easy! Now, I ain’t no tech expert, but I’ll tell ya in simple words how to do it. First off, let’s talk about what a shortcut even is. A shortcut is just like a little map, pointing ya to where your file or folder is, without havin’ to go to the original spot every time. Makes life a whole lot easier!

Now, let’s say you’re using a Linux system, like Ubuntu or Linux Mint. You know, them ones that look all fancy and clean. If you’re sittin’ in front of your computer and need to make a shortcut, here’s what ya gotta do.

Method 1: The Easy Way, Through the File Manager

First thing, you gotta find the file or folder you wanna make a shortcut for. Just click on it, highlight it, just like you would if you’re gonna move it somewhere. Then, up in the top menu, look for something that says “Edit.” Don’t be shy, click on it! Inside that menu, you’ll see an option called “Make Link.” That’s the magic word! If you click on that, it’ll make a shortcut for ya.

If you’re feeling a little lazy to move your hands around too much, you can press the Ctrl-M keys together after you’ve clicked the file, and it’ll do the same thing. Shortcut after shortcut, just like that!

Method 2: The Desktop Shortcut Way

Now, let’s say ya want that shortcut to show up right on your desktop. That way, every time ya need somethin’, you don’t gotta go lookin’ for it in them long lists of files. Here’s what you do. Hold down Shift and Ctrl at the same time, then drag the file or folder you want a shortcut for. While holdin’ them keys down, drag it over to your desktop. When you let go, bam! There’s your shortcut, all set and ready to use!

Method 3: If You Want to Do It Like the Pros – Using the Command Line

Now, if you wanna feel like you’re real smart with the computer, you can use the command line. It might sound a bit tricky, but don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it real slow. What you gotta do is open up a terminal window. You can find that by looking for it in your apps, or just press Ctrl + Alt + T together, and up it’ll pop!

Once you got the terminal open, you’ll use the ln command to make a link. Now, don’t get scared, it’s just a fancy word for a shortcut. You’ll also use the -s option, which tells the computer you want to make a symbolic link. It’s a type of shortcut that points to the file or folder you need, without really copying it.

Here’s what you need to type in the terminal:

ln -s /path/to/original/file /path/to/shortcut

Just replace /path/to/original/file with the path of the file or folder you want to make a shortcut for, and replace /path/to/shortcut with the location where you want your shortcut to be.

That’s it! You hit enter, and now you got yourself a shortcut right where you need it. It’s real handy, especially if you’re workin’ with lots of files.

Why Use Shortcuts in Linux?

Well, ya see, shortcuts save ya a whole lotta time! Imagine you got 100 files, all scattered around. Every time you wanna open one, ya gotta go through all them folders to find it. But if ya make shortcuts, all them important files are just a click away! Makes your work faster and smoother, so you got more time for the fun stuff!

So, whether you’re draggin’ files to the desktop or usin’ the command line, makin’ shortcuts is somethin’ you can do in no time. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be a shortcut-making pro in no time!

Final Thoughts

There you go, all the tricks you need to make shortcuts on Linux. Don’t be afraid to give it a try, it ain’t as hard as it sounds! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. I reckon shortcuts are the best thing since sliced bread, and you’ll see, it’ll make your computer time so much easier. So get to it, and make those shortcuts!

Tags：[Linux Shortcuts, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Make Link, Command Line, Symbolic Link, Desktop Shortcut, File Management, Linux Tips, Tech for Beginners]