Labthrift Labthrift What to buy. What to skip. Why.

Written 31 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card. Buy links are not tagged yet.

Clear the leftover-box window

After leftover-box tty, clear the leftover-box window with leftover-box clear so old leftover-box output stops cluttering the leftover-box session. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this.

See leftover-box terminal name printed leftover-box terminal name with leftover-box tty. Tonight is leftover-box window: leftover-box clear. Clear means leftover-box window (wipe leftover-box screen). Old leftover-box output is gone from the leftover-box window; leftover-box history still remembers leftover-box commands (that is leftover-box-history, not tonight). You are still only practicing in home. The leftover box does not need extra leftover-box system software, htop, Grafana, or a NAS for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. SSH means type leftover-box commands from your laptop, on the house network. If leftover-box tty is what you want (leftover-box terminal name), that is see leftover-box terminal name. Tty prints leftover-box terminal name. Leftover-box clear wipes leftover-box window. Skip leftover-box tty as tonight's job — that page exists. If leftover-box locale is what you want (leftover-box language and leftover-box region), that is see leftover-box language and leftover-box region. Locale prints leftover-box language and leftover-box region. Skip leftover-box locale as tonight's job — that page exists. If leftover-box printenv is what you want (leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH), that is see leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. Printenv prints leftover-box environment. Skip leftover-box printenv as tonight's job — leftover-box printenv exists. If leftover-box who is what you want (leftover-box people on leftover-box sessions), that is see who is on the leftover box right now. Who lists leftover-box people. Skip leftover-box who as tonight's job — that page exists. If leftover-box whoami is what you want (leftover-box login name only), that is see leftover-box login name. Whoami prints leftover-box login name. If leftover-box history is leftover-box login leftover-box history, that is see who logged into the leftover box recently. Last prints leftover-box login leftover-box history. Skip leftover-box last as tonight's job. If leftover-box history is leftover-box commands you already typed (Up arrow), that is reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. Leftover-box history still remembers leftover-box commands after leftover-box clear. Skip leftover-box history as tonight's job. If leftover-box id is what you want (leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups), that is see leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. Id prints leftover-box numbers and leftover-box groups. If leftover-box uname is what you want (leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture), that is see leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture. Uname prints leftover-box kernel. If leftover-box less is what you want (leftover-box pager; leftover-box q leaves), that is read a leftover-box file one screen at a time. Less is leftover-box pager. Clear wipes leftover-box window. Skip leftover-box less as tonight's job. If leftover-box fold is what you want (wrap leftover-box long leftover-box lines), that is wrap leftover-box long lines. Skip leftover-box fold as tonight's job. If leftover-box echo is what you want (print leftover-box words you type), that is put a short line into a leftover-box file. If leftover-box pwd is what you want (where you are sitting), that is see which leftover-box folder you are in. Pwd prints leftover-box folder path. If leftover-box which / leftover-box command -v is what you want (where one leftover-box command lives), that is see where a leftover-box command lives. If leftover-box help text is what you want, that is ask a leftover-box command what it does. If leftover-box name that sticks is what you want, that is give the leftover box a name that sticks. Hostname is leftover-box name on the house network. If leftover computer hardware is what you want, that is see what leftover computer you already have. If leftover-box worker count is what you want, that is see how many workers the leftover box already has. If leftover-box VM feature is what you want, that is see if the leftover box can run a pretend computer. If leftover-box date is what you want (clock read), that is see what time the leftover box thinks it is. Skip leftover-box date as tonight's job. If leftover-box clock zone is what you want, that is set the leftover box clock to your house. Skip leftover-box timezone as tonight's job. If leftover-box cal is what you want (leftover-box month grid), that is see leftover-box month on a leftover-box calendar. Skip leftover-box cal as tonight's job. Skip leftover-box how long a leftover-box command took. That is see how long a leftover-box command took. Skip leftover-box stop after a few seconds. That is stop a leftover-box command after a few seconds. Skip leftover-box re-run. That is see leftover-box change without typing again. If the leftover laptop lid is putting the leftover box to sleep, that is don't let the leftover laptop sleep. That is leftover-box lid sleep, not leftover-box clear. Skip leftover-box reset as tonight's leftover-box job. Reset is leftover-box garbled leftover-box terminal fix, later, different. If leftover-box window size is what you want, that is see leftover-box window size. Skip leftover-box stty as tonight's leftover-box job — leftover-box stty is later. Skip leftover-box password login off as tonight's job. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works.

What this is

clear means wipe leftover-box window. You type leftover-box clear. Clear means leftover-box window (wipe leftover-box screen). Old leftover-box output is gone from leftover-box window. Leftover-box history still remembers leftover-box commands. After leftover-box tty, this is leftover-box window so old leftover-box output stops cluttering leftover-box session. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. It is not leftover-box tty. Tty prints leftover-box terminal name. That is see leftover-box terminal name. Skip leftover-box tty as tonight's job — that page exists. It is not leftover-box locale. Locale prints leftover-box language and leftover-box region. That is see leftover-box language and leftover-box region. Skip leftover-box locale as tonight's job — that page exists. It is not leftover-box printenv. Printenv prints leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. That is see leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. Skip leftover-box printenv as tonight's job — leftover-box printenv exists. It is not leftover-box who. Who lists leftover-box people. That is see who is on the leftover box right now. Skip leftover-box who as tonight's job — that page exists. It is not leftover-box whoami. Whoami prints leftover-box login name. That is see leftover-box login name. It is not leftover-box login leftover-box history. That is see who logged into the leftover box recently. It is not leftover-box history (reuse leftover-box commands you already typed / leftover-box Up arrow). That is reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. Skip leftover-box history as tonight's leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box id. Id prints leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. That is see leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. It is not leftover-box kernel name. That is leftover-box uname. Uname prints leftover-box kernel. That is see leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture. It is not leftover-box less. Less is leftover-box pager. Leftover-box q leaves leftover-box pager. That is read a leftover-box file one screen at a time. Skip leftover-box less as tonight's leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box fold. Fold wraps leftover-box long leftover-box lines. That is wrap leftover-box long lines. Skip leftover-box fold as tonight's leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box echo. Echo prints leftover-box words you type. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file. It is not leftover-box pwd. Pwd prints where you are sitting. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in. It is not leftover-box which / leftover-box command -v. That is see where a leftover-box command lives. It is not leftover-box help text. That is ask a leftover-box command what it does. It is not leftover-box name that sticks. That is give the leftover box a name that sticks. It is not leftover computer hardware. That is see what leftover computer you already have. It is not leftover-box worker count. That is see how many workers the leftover box already has. It is not leftover-box VM feature. That is see if the leftover box can run a pretend computer. It is not leftover-box date. That is see what time the leftover box thinks it is. Skip leftover-box date as the leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box clock zone. That is set the leftover box clock to your house. Skip leftover-box timezone as the leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box cal. That is see leftover-box month on a leftover-box calendar. Skip leftover-box cal as the leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box time. That is see how long a leftover-box command took. It is not leftover-box timeout. That is stop a leftover-box command after a few seconds. It is not leftover-box watch. That is see leftover-box change without typing again. It is not leftover-box reset as tonight's leftover-box job. Reset is leftover-box garbled leftover-box terminal fix, later, different. It is not leftover-box stty. Stty prints leftover-box window size. That is see leftover-box window size. Skip leftover-box stty as tonight's leftover-box job. It is not leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, or leftover-box write as tonight's leftover-box job. Night one is leftover-box window, not leftover-box session school.

Practice leftover-box clear in home

SSH in. Make sure home is where you are sitting:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name. If not:

cd ~

Make a little leftover-box clutter so leftover-box window has leftover-box lines:

seq 1 40

Or leftover-box echo hello a few times. Seq prints leftover-box numbers. Echo prints leftover-box words. That leftover-box clutter is only so leftover-box clear has leftover-box lines to wipe. Do not make leftover-box seq the leftover-box job.

Ask leftover-box to wipe leftover-box window:

clear

The leftover-box window should look empty. Leftover-box prompt sits near the leftover-box top. Clear means leftover-box window (wipe leftover-box screen). Old leftover-box output is gone from leftover-box window. Leftover-box history still remembers leftover-box commands. That leftover-box history is leftover-box history, not tonight. That is reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. Skip leftover-box history as tonight's leftover-box job. That is enough for night one. Practice only in home.

Debian and Ubuntu leftover-box already have leftover-box clear (leftover-box ncurses-bin, usual leftover-box install). Do not make leftover-box apt the leftover-box job. If leftover-box clear is somehow missing, leftover-box optional aside:

sudo apt install ncurses-bin

Then stop. That leftover-box apt line is not the leftover-box lesson.

No leftover-box files are required for this practice. If you made leftover-box practice files anyway, throw them away with careful delete only. That is delete a leftover-box file carefully. Skip rm -rf.

Useful extras, still home only

Optional extra: leftover-box clear -x if leftover-box present:

clear -x

On some leftover-box terminals, leftover-box clear also wipes leftover-box scrollback. Leftover-box clear -x means leftover-box window only; leftover-box scrollback stays. Night one can stop at leftover-box clear. Do not make leftover-box clear -x the leftover-box job.

Optional extra: leftover-box Ctrl+L often leftover-box clears leftover-box window too in many leftover-box shells. Night one can stop at leftover-box clear. Do not make leftover-box Ctrl+L the leftover-box job.

Optional extra: leftover-box window size with leftover-box stty size:

stty size

That leftover-box line is leftover-box rows and leftover-box columns. That is see leftover-box window size. Night one can stop at leftover-box clear. Do not make leftover-box stty the leftover-box job.

Skip leftover-box reset as tonight's leftover-box job. Reset is leftover-box garbled leftover-box terminal fix, later, different. Night one is leftover-box window, not leftover-box terminal repair.

Skip leftover-box tty as tonight's job. Tty prints leftover-box terminal name. That is see leftover-box terminal name.

Skip leftover-box locale as tonight's job. Locale prints leftover-box language and leftover-box region. That is see leftover-box language and leftover-box region.

Skip leftover-box printenv as tonight's job. Printenv prints leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. That is see leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH.

Skip leftover-box who as tonight's job. Who lists leftover-box people. That is see who is on the leftover box right now.

Skip leftover-box whoami as tonight's job. Whoami prints leftover-box login name. That is see leftover-box login name.

Skip leftover-box login leftover-box history as tonight. That is see who logged into the leftover box recently.

Skip leftover-box history as tonight's job. History reuses leftover-box commands you already typed. That is reuse a leftover-box command you already typed.

Skip leftover-box id as tonight's job. Id prints leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. That is see leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups.

Skip leftover-box uname as tonight's job. Uname prints leftover-box kernel name. That is see leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture.

Skip leftover-box less as tonight's job. Less is leftover-box pager. Leftover-box q leaves leftover-box pager. That is read a leftover-box file one screen at a time.

Skip leftover-box fold as tonight's job. Fold wraps leftover-box long leftover-box lines. That is wrap leftover-box long lines.

Skip leftover-box echo as tonight's job. Echo prints leftover-box words you type. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file.

Skip leftover-box pwd as tonight's job. Pwd prints where you are sitting. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in.

Skip leftover-box which / leftover-box command -v as tonight's job. That is see where a leftover-box command lives.

Skip leftover-box help as tonight. That is ask a leftover-box command what it does.

Skip leftover-box hostname as tonight. That is give the leftover box a name that sticks.

Skip leftover computer hardware as tonight. That is see what leftover computer you already have.

Skip leftover-box worker count as tonight. That is see how many workers the leftover box already has.

Skip leftover-box VM feature as tonight. That is see if the leftover box can run a pretend computer.

Skip leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, and leftover-box write as tonight's leftover-box job.

Skip leftover-box SSH folders, leftover-box YubiKey, leftover-box extra leftover-box system software, leftover-box camera, and leftover-box monitoring box as tonight.

Skip leftover-box cal as tonight's job. Cal prints leftover-box month grid. That is see leftover-box month on a leftover-box calendar.

Skip leftover-box date as tonight's job. Date reads leftover-box clock. That is see what time the leftover box thinks it is.

Skip leftover-box clock zone as tonight. That is set the leftover box clock to your house. Do not run leftover-box timedatectl set-timezone as tonight's job.

Skip leftover-box time as tonight's job. Time measures leftover-box duration. That is see how long a leftover-box command took.

Skip leftover-box timeout as tonight's job. Timeout stops. That is stop a leftover-box command after a few seconds.

Skip leftover-box watch as tonight's job. That is see leftover-box change without typing again.

Skip leftover-box lid sleep as tonight. That is leftover-box lid, not leftover-box clear. That is don't let the leftover laptop sleep.

Skip leftover-box password login off as tonight. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works.

Skip leftover-box zip, tar, gzip, unzip, leftover-box du, leftover-box ping, and leftover-box curl as tonight's job. Those leftover-box pages already exist.

Skip htop, top, Grafana, a monitoring box, and a NAS. Skip leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, leftover-box write, nohup, ps, kill, kill -9, jobs, and pkill as tonight.

Skip leftover-box files under /etc, SSH folders, leftover-box /dev as a leftover-box dump, other disks, USB sticks, and /srv as tonight's lesson. Practice only in home. Clear does not need leftover-box /etc or leftover-box /dev as a leftover-box dump on night one.

What this is not

This is not leftover-box tty. Tty prints leftover-box terminal name, not leftover-box window wipe. That is see leftover-box terminal name. It is not leftover-box locale. Locale prints leftover-box language and leftover-box region. That is see leftover-box language and leftover-box region. It is not leftover-box printenv. Printenv prints leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. That is see leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. It is not leftover-box who. Who lists leftover-box people. That is see who is on the leftover box right now. It is not leftover-box whoami. Whoami prints leftover-box login name. That is see leftover-box login name. It is not leftover-box login leftover-box history. That is see who logged into the leftover box recently. It is not leftover-box history. History reuses leftover-box commands you already typed. That is reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. It is not leftover-box id. Id prints leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. That is see leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. It is not leftover-box kernel name. Uname is leftover-box kernel, not leftover-box window. That is see leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture. It is not leftover-box less. Less is leftover-box pager. Leftover-box q leaves leftover-box pager. That is read a leftover-box file one screen at a time. It is not leftover-box fold. Fold wraps leftover-box long leftover-box lines. That is wrap leftover-box long lines. It is not leftover-box echo. That is put a short line into a leftover-box file. It is not leftover-box pwd. That is see which leftover-box folder you are in. It is not leftover-box which / leftover-box command -v. That is see where a leftover-box command lives. It is not leftover-box help text. That is ask a leftover-box command what it does. It is not leftover-box name that sticks. That is give the leftover box a name that sticks. It is not leftover computer hardware. That is see what leftover computer you already have. It is not leftover-box worker count. That is see how many workers the leftover box already has. It is not leftover-box VM feature. That is see if the leftover box can run a pretend computer. It is not leftover-box date. That is see what time the leftover box thinks it is. It is not leftover-box clock zone. That is set the leftover box clock to your house. It is not leftover-box cal. That is see leftover-box month on a leftover-box calendar. It is not leftover-box time. That is see how long a leftover-box command took. It is not leftover-box timeout. That is stop a leftover-box command after a few seconds. It is not leftover-box watch. That is see leftover-box change without typing again. It is not leftover-box lid sleep. That is don't let the leftover laptop sleep. It is not leftover-box password login off. That is turn off leftover-box password login once the key works. It is not leftover-box reset as the leftover-box job. Reset is leftover-box garbled leftover-box terminal fix, later, different. It is not leftover-box stty as the leftover-box job. Stty prints leftover-box window size, not leftover-box window wipe. That is see leftover-box window size. It is not leftover-box screen, leftover-box tmux, leftover-box script, leftover-box mesg, leftover-box wall, or leftover-box write as the leftover-box job. It is not a careful leftover-box delete. That is delete a leftover-box file carefully. It is not leftover-box extra leftover-box system software, leftover-box YubiKey, leftover-box camera, a monitoring app, htop, Grafana, or a NAS. It is not leftover-box /dev as a leftover-box dump. It is not opening SSH to the internet so you can wipe leftover-box window from a coffee shop. That is keep the leftover box on the house network. Do not forward port 22.

What next

Need leftover-box terminal name? See leftover-box terminal name. Need leftover-box language and leftover-box region? See leftover-box language and leftover-box region. Need leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH? See leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH. Need leftover-box people on leftover-box sessions? See who is on the leftover box right now. Need leftover-box login name only? See leftover-box login name. Need leftover-box commands you already typed? Reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. Need leftover-box pager? Read a leftover-box file one screen at a time. Need leftover-box long leftover-box lines wrapped? Wrap leftover-box long lines. Need leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups? See leftover-box user number and leftover-box groups. Need leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture? See leftover-box kernel name and leftover-box architecture. Need leftover-box date (clock)? See what time the leftover box thinks it is. Need leftover-box clock zone? Set the leftover box clock to your house. Need leftover-box month grid? See leftover-box month on a leftover-box calendar. Need leftover-box name that sticks? Give the leftover box a name that sticks. Need leftover computer hardware? See what leftover computer you already have. Need leftover-box worker count? See how many workers the leftover box already has. Need leftover-box VM feature? See if the leftover box can run a pretend computer. Need leftover-box practice files gone? Delete a leftover-box file carefully. Need leftover-box window size? See leftover-box window size. When key login is boring on every computer you use, turn off leftover-box password login once the key works. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the leftover box on the house network. Do not forward port 22.

Skip

Sources

Debian: clear(1). Ubuntu: clear(1). Official pages only. For leftover-box terminal name, see see leftover-box terminal name. For leftover-box commands you already typed, see reuse a leftover-box command you already typed. For the login, see SSH from the couch.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the leftover box from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Do not open this to the internet. See leftover-box terminal nameAfter leftover-box locale, see leftover-box terminal name with leftover-box tty so leftover-box SSH leftover-box session vs leftover-box keyboard leftover-box session makes sense. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. See leftover-box window sizeAfter leftover-box clear, see leftover-box window size with leftover-box stty size so leftover-box rows and leftover-box columns make sense. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. See leftover-box language and leftover-box regionAfter leftover-box printenv, see leftover-box language and leftover-box region with leftover-box locale so leftover-box dates, leftover-box number format, and leftover-box character set (UTF-8) make sense. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. Reuse a leftover-box command you already typedAfter SSH works, flip back through commands you already typed with the Up arrow or history. You do not need a notebook for the same long line twice. Read a leftover-box file one screen at a timeAfter SSH works, open a leftover-box file with less so a long file does not flood the window. Space turns the page. q leaves. You do not need a file viewer app for this. Wrap leftover-box long linesAfter SSH works, wrap leftover-box long leftover-box lines with fold so they do not run off the leftover-box window. You do not need a file manager app for this. See leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATHAfter leftover-box uname, see leftover-box HOME and leftover-box PATH with leftover-box printenv so leftover-box login leftover-box environment makes sense. You do not need extra leftover-box system software for this. See leftover-box login nameAfter SSH works, see leftover-box login name with whoami so leftover-box home and leftover-box sudo make sense. You do not need extra login software for this. See who is on the leftover box right nowBefore you buy a camera or a monitoring box, ask who is logged into the leftover box right now with who. Delete a leftover-box file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one leftover-box file with rm -i. The leftover box asks before it goes. Skip rm -rf. You do not need a NAS for this. Turn off leftover-box password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the leftover-box password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the leftover box is the backup now. Keep the leftover box on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Do not forward port 22.