How can I get the current date and time in the terminal and set a custom command in the terminal for it?

Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
September 2, 2023
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How to Get the Current Date and Time in the Terminal 💻📅⌚

Are you tired of opening your phone or searching for the clock widget on your desktop every time you need to check the date and time? Look no further! In this guide, we'll show you how to easily get the current date and time directly in your Linux terminal, and even set a custom command for it.

1. Getting the Current Date and Time 🕒

In Linux, the date command is your best friend when it comes to quickly retrieving the current date and time. Simply open your terminal and type the following command:

date

Press Enter, and voila! You'll see the current date and time displayed on your screen. For example:

Wed Feb 10 14:30:00 CET 2022

2. Customizing Your Terminal Command 🎛️

Now, let's take it up a notch and set a custom command for getting the date and time in your terminal. This way, you won't have to remember the date command or type it out every time you need to check the time. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your terminal and navigate to your home directory by typing:

cd ~

Step 2: Next, open your .bashrc file using a text editor. For example, you can use nano:

nano .bashrc

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the file or any empty line and add the following line:

alias mytime='date'

Feel free to replace mytime with any other command that suits your preference.

Step 4: Save the file and exit the text editor. In nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl + X, then confirming the save by pressing Y, and finally pressing Enter to exit.

Step 5: To apply the changes, either restart your terminal or type the following command in your current terminal session:

source .bashrc

3. Using Your Custom Command 🚀

You're all set! Now, you can access the current date and time in your terminal by typing your custom command. For example, if you used mytime as your command, simply type:

mytime

And just like that, the current date and time will appear on your screen without the need for any additional commands!

Conclusion and Call-to-Action 💡📢

Now that you know how to get the current date and time in your terminal and even set a custom command for it, say goodbye to unnecessary clicks and complicated commands. Embrace the streamline and efficiency that comes with having the date and time at your fingertips with just a few keystrokes.

Give it a try! Set up your custom command today and enjoy the simplicity of checking the time in your Linux terminal. Let us know how it goes in the comments below! 😃✍️

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