Is there a way to chain commands?

[Amablue]

For example, most of the time when I change directories on the command like with cd I want to immediatly follow it with ls so I can see what I'm working with. Is there a way to make it so that executing the command cl mydir/, for example, would do execute cd mydir and then ls?

[zerhacke]

Put a ; (semicolon) between commands.

cd mydir ; ls

[Fire_Chief]

You can use the && notation to chain commands if you like such as

cd mydir && ls && chown root.root filename

[tom4everitt]

You can also write your own script:

cd /usr/bin
sudo emacs cl

Add something like this to the file:

#!/bin/bash

cd $1  # $1 refers to the first argument given to your script.
ls

exit 0

Then you give everyone permission to run it:

sudo chmod 777 cl

Since it is stored in the /usr/bin, it will automatically be activated once you type it in the terminal. Hence, you can use it just the way you described, i.e:

cl name-of-dir

EDIT: This tip is essentially useless. Running cd inside the script won't have any effect outside the script (in the terminal). But there are a lot of other fun stuff to do with scripting (just google "bash scripting tutorial" if you wanna know more.)

[nothingspecial]

From your question - why not

ls /directory/you/want/to/be/in/

eg

ls /media/disk/music/

[Amablue]

From your question - why not

ls /directory/you/want/to/be/in/

eg

ls /media/disk/music/

I often want to change my working directory and immediately see what's in there, and I like to save myself those two or three keystroke

[prshah]

I often want to change my working directory and immediately see what's in there, and I like to save myself those two or three keystroke

Spoken like a true power user.

[sisco311]

you can use a bash function:

function xs() { cd $@ && ls; }

add the line to the ~/.bashrc file.

xs path/to/dir

EDIT2:

you can define an alias:

alias cd="xs"

[bodhi.zazen]

There are several ways to string commands.

command1; command2

runs command 1 then command2

And:
command1 && command2

command 2 only runs if command 1 is successful

Or
command1 || command2

command 2 runs if command 1 fails


command1 | command2
pipes the output of command 1 to command2

etc, etc ...

[Amablue]

you can use a bash function:

function xs() { cd $@ && ls; }

add the line to the ~/.bashrc file.

xs path/to/dir

EDIT2:

you can define an alias:

alias cd="xs"

Thanks, this is what I was looking for