====== Tasks that are best done on the command line ======

Here are a few tasks that you might want to consider using the command line for.

===== Resizing images =====

Unless you are doing some sort of cropping there is no reason to load up Photoshop or the Gimp. A simple command will usually suffice for almost all your image resizing needs.
  convert -resize 300 image.jpg image-small.jpg

If you finding yourself doing lots of image resizing during the day, this command could potentially save you a LOT of time. You can even do mass image resizing.


===== Adding a Drop Shadow to an Image =====
I found myself spending a ton of time adding drop shadows to images. Using a simple command I was able to create drop shadows in seconds.

  convert screenshot.jpg \( +clone -background black -shadow 60×5+0+5 \) +swap -background white -layers merge +repage shadow.jpg

Note: You must have Imagemagick installed for this command to work. Debian/Ubuntu users can use apt-get install imagemagick.

Obviously, I don’t expect you to memorize this command. To shorten it use an alias.


===== Splice Together an MP3 =====

If you want simple MP3 splicing this command has your back:
  cat 1.mp3 2.mp3 > combined.mp3


===== Clone a Hard Drive =====
DD is one the most simplistic and powerful image applications out there.
  dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb


===== Burn an ISO to a CD =====

Why open up K3B or some other program just to burn an ISO? Map this command to an alias and get burning.
  cdrecord -v speed=8 dev=0,0,0 name_of_iso_file.iso

Note: You need to get the info for the ‘dev=’ part by running ‘cdrecord -scanbus’

===== Video Conversions =====

Let’s say you want to convert an AVI to an Mpeg file:
  ffmpeg -i video_origine.avi video_finale.mpg

Or convert an Mpeg to AVI:
  ffmpeg -i video_origine.mpg video_finale.avi

There are all sorts of things you can do with ffmpeg.

===== Replace Words in a Text File =====
No need to open up a GUI text editor when you have sed.

This command from Eric’s Wendelin’s blog will replace all instances of a color in CSS with another one.
  sed ’s/#FF0000/#0000FF/g’ main.css

Source: http://www.nixtutor.com/linux/7-tasks-you-shouldnt-use-a-gui-for/

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