LinuxCommandLibrary

hn

Set or view hostname

TLDR

View stories on Hacker News

$ hn
copy

View _number_ of stories on Hacker News
$ hn [[-l|--limit]] [number]
copy

View stories on Hacker News, and keep the list open after selecting a link
$ hn [[-k|--keep-open]]
copy

View stories on Hacker News sorted by submission date
$ hn --latest
copy

SYNOPSIS

'hn' is not a standard command. Synopsis unknown without specific context.

DESCRIPTION

The 'hn' command is not a standard utility found in common Linux distributions (e.g., Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, Arch Linux) or their core package repositories. Unlike widely recognized commands such as 'ls', 'cd', or 'grep', 'hn' does not have a predefined, universal purpose or syntax.

If you've encountered 'hn', it's highly likely to be one of the following:

1. A custom alias or shell function: Many users or system administrators create short aliases for frequently used or complex commands (e.g., 'alias hn='hostname'').
2. A custom script: A shell script or program named 'hn' might have been placed in a directory included in the system's PATH variable.
3. Part of a niche application: A specific, less common software package might include a command named 'hn'.
4. A typo: It could be a mistyped version of a standard command (e.g., 'hostname', 'head -n').

Without specific context about its origin or environment, it's impossible to provide a definitive analysis of its intended functionality, parameters, or behavior. Users should exercise caution if running an unknown command.

CAVEATS

Since 'hn' is not a standard Linux command, its behavior, existence, and any potential side effects are entirely dependent on how it was implemented in a specific environment. There are no general guarantees or standard practices for its use. Running unknown commands can pose security risks or lead to unintended system modifications. Always verify the source and purpose of non-standard commands before execution.

IDENTIFYING 'HN'

If you encounter 'hn' and need to understand its origin, you can try the following commands in your terminal:
1. 'type hn': This command will tell you if 'hn' is an alias, a shell function, or an executable file.
2. 'which hn': If it's an executable, this will show its full path.
3. 'ls -l $(which hn)': If it's a script, you can then inspect its contents (e.g., using 'cat' or 'less') to understand what it does.
4. 'man hn': While unlikely for a non-standard command, it's worth checking if a local manual page exists for it.

HISTORY

There is no documented history or development timeline for a standard 'hn' command within the Linux ecosystem, as it is not part of any widely recognized standard or distribution set of utilities.

Copied to clipboard