Essential Command-Line Tools for Windows PCs: My Top 4 Picks

While the command line may seem reserved for system administrators or developers, it is a powerful resource for any advanced user looking to streamline tasks such as automating installations, decluttering systems, or transcoding media files. With suitable command-line tools at your disposal, you can significantly enhance your productivity through the efficient execution of text commands.

After several years of working with Windows, I’ve unearthed several command-line tools that have vastly improved my system’s speed, cleanliness, and overall efficiency. These tools offer extraordinary flexibility and have eliminated the need for tedious clicks. I encourage anyone looking to step beyond the graphical user interface (GUI) to explore the power of these command-line utilities.

Dust

Identify Disk Space Hogs

Meet Dust, a command-line utility that provides insightful information about disk usage. If you’ve ever wondered why your SSD is running out of space, this tool offers visual clarity by presenting disk usage in a color-coded, hierarchical tree-like structure. Serving as a modern, Rust-based replacement for the traditional “du”command and Microsoft’s older Sysinternals Du, Dust allows you to effortlessly pinpoint which files or folders are consuming your storage.

By executing the command dust c:, you can scan your C drive for usage statistics in an intuitive format, which includes folder sizes, usage percentages, and a visual representation of usage through bars. Customizable options such as dust -d 2 allow you to limit scans to two levels of subdirectories, giving you a high-level overview without overwhelming detail. Additionally, using dust -r reverses the sort order for focused analysis.

I rely on this tool whenever I suspect a folder has grown unexpectedly large or when I need to tidy up after completing a substantial installation. Thanks to its lightweight design, Dust runs swiftly and doesn’t require administrative privileges. Notably, while GUI-based alternatives like WinDirStat and WizTree provide similar insights, Dust’s terminal-only operation presents results in a quicker, text-based format that many users may prefer.

To get started with Dust, installation is straightforward using WinGet:

winget install --id=bootandy.dust -e

FFmpeg

Your Go-To Media Conversion Tool

If your work involves audio or video files, FFmpeg is undeniably a must-have utility. This comprehensive multimedia framework offers capabilities to convert, compress, record, and stream an extensive array of formats. With FFmpeg, you can easily extract audio, convert.mkv files to.mp4, and trim clips, all without the need for a graphical interface. For instance, the command ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:00 -to 00:02:00 -c copy clip.mp4 enables you to swiftly cut a one-minute segment from a video.

Its active development and open-source nature, combined with a broad codec support, contribute to its robust functionality. FFmpeg operates behind well-known multimedia applications like VLC and HandBrake, making it an essential tool for media management.

Although its steep learning curve may seem daunting initially, overcoming this challenge opens up a world of capabilities. I personally utilize FFmpeg to automate media file conversions and organize large batches of files efficiently, granting me professional-grade control over my media assets.

Installation is simple via WinGet:

winget install ffmpeg

Speedtest CLI

Measure Your Internet Speed via Command Line

Installing and getting results from the speed test tool — Afam Onyimadu / MUO

There are moments when a quick check of my internet speed is necessary without launching a browser, and for that, I turn to Speedtest CLI by Ookla. This command-line tool leverages the same backend as the Speedtest.net website, minus the distractions of advertisements. It offers rapid and reliable results while enabling you to script and automate tests easily. Installing it is straightforward with the following WinGet command:

winget install --id Ookla. Speedtest. CLI -e

Once installed, executing speedtest will display your upload and download speeds. You can refine the testing parameters using speedtest –server-id [ID] to select specific servers or speedtest –format=json to export results directly in JSON format. On days when my connection is sluggish, I often run multiple tests in succession and save the results to a text file for analysis.

Rclone

Efficiently Manage Cloud Storage

If you manage files across various cloud services, Rclone is an invaluable command-line tool. Acting as a universal cloud manager, it allows you to easily connect to services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Mega, and S3-compatible storage. Installation can be accomplished with:

winget install rclone

Once installed, you can run rclone config to set up your cloud accounts. For example, executing rclone copy “C:\Backups”remote:MyDrive enables you to mirror directories seamlessly. One of its standout features is its support for file encryption, scheduled synchronization, and bandwidth limits, making it much more than a simple file transfer tool.

I find Rclone particularly significant for backing up project folders and syncing across devices, removing the need for multiple app installations. Lightweight and efficient, Rclone allows for advanced functions such as serving files over HTTP or mounting cloud storage as a virtual drive.

Enhance Your Windows Workflow with Command-Line Tools

These command-line utilities are not just mere tools; they fundamentally transform your Windows experience into a faster, more streamlined process. They automate tedious tasks, simplify installations, and alleviate the burden of complex workflows.

Embracing the command line equips you with enhanced control over your operating environment, unveiling a wide range of possibilities. While I have explored several FFmpeg-powered apps as alternatives, nothing compares to the depth of functionality you achieve by directly utilizing these command-line tools.

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